ARBUTUS, Md. — Move over, Dalmatians—there’s a new firehouse favorite in town. Peanut, a curious feline, has become the unofficial mascot of a volunteer fire department in Arbutus, Maryland, thanks to her owner, Lamine Fofana, a second lieutenant EMS and volunteer firefighter.
Though Peanut doesn’t hold an official rank, she’s earned her place at the station with a personalized name tag and the affection of the crew. Fofana, who often brings her along on his shifts, says the adventurous cat loves exploring the firehouse and greeting everyone.
“She enjoys coming around. She loves all the people,” Fofana told PEOPLE Magazine. “A good portion of the time, she’s just walking around saying hi to everyone.”
A Viral Firehouse Star
Fofana documents Peanut’s firehouse adventures on TikTok, where one video racked up 3.5 million views. The clips show Peanut climbing on fire trucks, inspecting equipment, and even sitting behind the wheel—though she’s (understandably) not handling any emergency calls yet.
The crew has embraced her presence, often playing with her during downtime. “Other people like when she comes down,” Fofana said. “When I come without her, they ask me where she is and why she didn’t come.”
A Firehouse Fixture
Peanut typically joins Fofana on Sundays and occasional weekdays, ensuring she’s not left home alone during his volunteer shifts. While she refuses to wear a fire hat, the department is working on a custom firesuit for her.
“She doesn’t have an official title, but she does have her own name tag at the station,” Fofana said.
Her popularity has even inspired other firefighters to consider adopting station cats. One TikTok user commented, “Sharing with my boss (fire chief) to show him we do in fact need a station cat.”
For now, Peanut’s main duty is morale booster—a role she excels at. Fans can follow her firehouse escapades on Fofana’s TikTok page.
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