A fire fueled by fierce winds forced a couple to jump from a second-story window as it destroyed a home in Copiague early Thursday morning.
The fire, which fire officials confirmed was caused by a pellet stove used to keep the couple’s 22 foster cats warm, engulfed the home at around 2:45 a.m.
The intense winds made it nearly impossible to contain the flames.
Firefighters used thermal imaging equipment in hopes of locating any surviving cats amidst the rubble.
