A group of British firefighters are seen as heroes to save two cats from a fire – and to place specially designed oxygen masks for pets on their faces, according to a report.
Firefighters responded to the blaze in Runcorn, an industrial city south-east of Liverpool, at about 3pm on Saturday, battling the flames on the ground floor of the two-storey building, the Liverpool Echo reported.
The human occupants were unharmed, but the two cats needed medical treatment.
Photos published by Runcorn Fire Station show two of the smoke eaters rocking the cats in towels as they apply oxygen from the pet-friendly masks.
“Thanks to our equipment provided by Smokey Paws and the training of Willows Veterinary Group, we were able to administer oxygen before the cats were transferred to the vets,” the department said in a Facebook report.
The nonprofit Smokey Paws supplies the special masks to British fire services.
The group said on its website that “46% of households in the UK have pets and with more than 40,000 house fires a year, it is an unfortunate fact that pets die from smoke inhalation.”
According to an incident report on the fire published by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, it is said that four firefighters who were using breathing apparatus put out the fire.
According to an update posted Sunday, the kittens did well.
The fast-acting firefighters received praise for their response.
“Well done and thank you for saving these beautiful souls lives,” one Facebook user wrote.
Another said, ‘Well done red watch, you all deserve a medal. ‘