Rookie Santa Maria firefighter gets first save: a cat in a tree

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - A probationary firefighter with the Santa Maria Fire Department got his first save on Friday. It was a tail as old as time.

Probationary Firefighter Coonen with the Engine 3 crew climbed a large ladder to rescue a cat from a tree.

The cat had managed to climb its way all the way to the peak of an evergreen tree and, predictably, got stuck.

That's when firefighter Coonen came to the rescue.

Photos of the rescue were shared on the Santa Maria Fire Department's Twitter page.

The fire department reminded the public that while this isn't one of their typical calls, they are always there to lend a hand.