The Upstateโs most famous feline firefighter has passed away. Flame the Arson Cat ignited hearts in the Upstate, and all over the world, when he joined the Belmont Fire Department in 2013. In 2014, an Instagram account was created for Flame, which quickly gained over 100,000 followers. Flame retired from the Belmont Fire Department in October 2023, where he then lived full time with firefighter and EMT Gina Thompson. Flame passed away from issues with his bladder, according to an Instagram post. โWhat started as a few photos to document the quirks of our sweet cat turned into something never expected: a place of joy, connection, and shared love for this very special soul,โ the Instagram caption said. โIf love could have saved him, he would have lived forever and ever.โ In 2017, Flame won the ASPCAโs โAnimal of the Year,โ an award that honors animals who have positively impacted the lives of others. He also starred in the film project โCat Daddies.โ
