Harpswell family reunited with their cat, weeks after devastating fire

Pownal/Harpswell (WGME) — A family from Harpswell lost everything in a devastating fire last month.

The flames were so intense the Cressey family thought they lost their beloved cat Simba.

"I put her and the dog through the back window and couldn't find the cat because we couldn't get down the hallway anymore so we went out the windows and by the time we got out to the front, there was fire coming out of all the windows," says Wendell Cressey, recalling the moments when his home caught fire last month.

The Cressey family was devastated over the loss of their home and even more upset about their cat Simba.

"The firefighter was like I'm sorry I don't think he made it through," says Brittany Cressey.

Even though things weren't looking good for the Cressey family, Brittany and Wendell remained hopeful.

They spent weeks searching for Simba.

"He's a pretty friendly cat. He's been indoors his whole life. He's never really even been outside so we figured if he did make it out I don't think he would have even quite made it," says Wendell.

On Christmas day the family stumbled upon a Facebook post.

It was a picture of Simba who was found not far from where the family lived.

"We hoped and prayed that someone would come and find him and that's what happened," says Brittany.

Wendell and Brittany wanted to surprise their three daughters with Simba.

They caught the emotional reunion on camera.

"I was really upset," says 12-year-old Alyssa Cressey.

"I was thinking about him so many times that I didn't want to go to school anymore. I just wanted to stay home. I was so upset."

Now the family is back together and couldn't be happier.

"Then we saw the cat and it was heartwarming because I was crying so much it was Simba because he let me pick him up. He's a cutie," says Alyssa.

"Everything else can be replaced in time, but your pets can't. Pets and people," says Wendell.