Toast Malone, a cat trapped in the burned remains of Midvale, Utah's North Union Apartments, was found alive more than 72 hours after a July 31 fire. Firefighters discovered him hiding in a closet beneath a remaining roof section; he was "wet, cold and a little scared" but otherwise healthy after evaluation. Owners Ryder Mathis and Madi lost nearly all their possessions and are receiving community support as they rebuild. The emotional reunion underscored gratitude for rescuers and neighbors who kept searching.
Toast Malone: Cat Found Alive More Than 72 Hours After Devastating Utah Apartment Fire, Reunited With Owners
Credit: Unified Fire Authority
Toast Malone, a cat trapped in the burned remains of the North Union Apartments in Midvale, Utah, was found alive more than 72 hours after a fire swept through the building on the morning of July 31, the Unified Fire Authority said.
Unified Fire Authority and Salt Lake County Animal Services came together to rescue Toast MaloneCredit: Unified Fire Authority
Rescue and Reunion
Days after the blaze, firefighters returned to the heavily damaged structure and discovered Toast hiding in a closet beneath one of the few roof sections still intact. Despite exposure to smoke, hundreds of thousands of gallons of firefighting water and the surrounding collapse, the feline was "wet, cold and a little scared" but otherwise in good health.
Toast Malone was found alive inside a closet beneath one of the only sections of roof left standing after much of the building collapsedCredit: Unified Fire Authority
Salt Lake County Animal Services assisted with the response and described the rescue as "against all odds." Toast was evaluated by the emergency team at VEG and released about an hour later to return home to his owners, Ryder Mathis and his girlfriend, Madi.
Ryder Mathis holds Toast Malone after being reunitedCredit: Unified Fire Authority
Owners' Losses and Gratitude
The couple, who had been preparing for an October wedding, lost nearly all of their possessions in the fire and did not have fire insurance. To save for the wedding, Madi had moved in with her parents while Mathis rented the apartment the pair planned to use after marriage. Over months they had collected furniture and household items that were largely destroyed in the blaze.
"We are SO grateful he's still alive. Everything else is just stuff," Madi wrote on a GoFundMe page created to help the couple recover.
Speaking with ABC affiliate KUTV after the reunion, Mathis said he had begun to accept that Toast might not be found alive. "I'm kind of speechless," he said, praising Salt Lake County Animal Services — and Sergeant Cantor in particular — for pushing to have crews search the site again. He also thanked the Unified Fire Authority for their work.
Aftermath and Community Support
While the family now faces rebuilding and replacing belongings, Toast's return provided an emotional lift and a reminder of what matters most to the couple. A GoFundMe created on their behalf aims to help them recover their losses and get back on their feet ahead of their planned wedding.
Authorities Involved: Unified Fire Authority; Salt Lake County Animal Services; emergency team at VEG; local media KUTV; and community supporters through GoFundMe.
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