Hermiston firefighter Harry Moffitt holds a small gray kitten he found Saturday hiding in the engine bay of a dozer. The kitten has become an unofficial mascot at the Canyon Creek Complex fire base camp in John Day.

JOHN DAY — The Canyon Creek Complex fire base camp in John Day now has a mascot.

A small gray kitten that was discovered hiding in the engine bay of a dozer truck transport Saturday is capturing the hearts of firefighters.

“Everybody loves her,” said fire public information officer Traci Weaver, who has unofficially adopted the kitten.

The kitten, which appears to be about 4 months old, was found by firefighter Harry Moffitt of Hermiston as he and other firefighters were reporting to duty at a drop point on Marysville Road south of John Day where they left their dozer and transport truck over night.

“The dozer was parked there and she just climbed up in it,” Weaver said. “It was probably trying to get warm or hiding.”

The firefighters fed the cat part of their lunch and let her curl up in their truck to sleep.

They later called base camp, and that’s when Weaver got involved.

She said naming the cat was easy.

Because the kitten was found in a dozer transport, “’Dozer’ was the first name that came to mind,” she said.

The kitten has a hurt right leg and was checked out by a local veterinarian. She’s being doted on by firefighters at base camp and hangs out at the work tent that houses public information officers.

Weaver, who is from western Wyoming, said her daughter, whose 7-year-old cat recently disappeared, is excited about the prospects of caring for Dozer.

“She’s seen pictures of Dozer, and she’s pretty excited but now she’s worried that with all the attention Dozer’s getting, maybe the owners will show up,” Weaver said.