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Cat-astrophe averted

Cat-astrophe averted
Photo by Paul Martinka

Two lives down, 16 to go!

New York’s Bravest rescued two helpless felines trapped in a Fifth Avenue inferno on May 4.

Deli worker Saleh Abdullah of Express Deli Grocery called 911 at 10:15 am after he spotted smoke billowing from the top-floor apartment of the building between 10th and 11th streets.

Firefighters Joe Hayes and Mike Biserta emerged from the blaze clutching the hysterical but otherwise unharmed felines.

The city’s bravest left the lucky fur balls with Abdullah, who let them relax in his candy rack until their owner came to retrieve them.

At least one of the cats, according to Abdullah, looked like he had seen better days.

“The big one was scared,” he said.

Firefighters extinguished fourth-floor blaze in less than a half hour, and, thanks to their efforts, nobody — feline or otherwise — was injured, according to a spokesman for the Fire Department.

Reach reporter Colin Mixson at cmixson@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4505.