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Feedback: Cat Survives Watertown Apartment Building Fire

Story Published: May 18, 2012 at 5:22 PM EDT

Story Updated: May 18, 2012 at 6:45 PM EDT

Through all the flames, smoke and water at 239 High Street Tuesday morning, one resident survived but laid low - until now. 

Stripy the cat showed up on a window sill Friday afternoon, spotted by a friend of one of the tenants.

"I was like, wait, didn't they say all the cats died," said Holly Garrow, a friend of the building tenants.

"And Stripy was sitting in the middle window," said tenant Sophia Fuhrman. 

The two women made phone calls, but nothing happened.

"We called everybody to get it out and nobody would help us," said Sophia.

Their efforts managed to get a window broken open, but Stripy had disappeared.

Holly and Sophia settled down for a wait.

"If she comes right up there, she'll come out," said Holly.

Meanwhile, the Watertown City Codes Office condemned the building for occupancy.

However, the owner said it can be saved.

"We're gonna try to rebuild it," said owner Ricky Frazier.

Frazier says he put $60,000 into renovating the building and that would be money up in smoke if decided to demolish.

Meanwhile, the condemnation order leads to a new problem - tenants can't get inside to retrieve their belongings.

"It's an unsafe environment, so i'm trying to figure out a way to make that happen," said Frazier.

Joshua Metzler, the suspect blamed for starting the fire remains in jail.

His case is likely headed to a grand jury.

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Sunday, May 19, 2013
, Watertown, NY

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