A group of British firefighters are being hailed as heroes for rescuing two cats from a blaze — and placing specially designed pet oxygen masks on their faces, according to a report.
The firefighters responded around 3 p.m. Saturday to the fire in Runcorn, an industrial town southeast of Liverpool, where they battled the flames on the ground floor of the two-story building, the Liverpool Echo reported.
The human occupants were unhurt but the two cats needed medical treatment after the ordeal.
Photos published by the Runcorn Fire Station show two of the smoke-eaters cradling the cats in towels as they administer oxygen from the pet-friendly masks.
“Thanks to our equipment supplied by Smokey Paws and training from Willows Veterinary Group, we were able to administer oxygen before the Cats were conveyed to the Vets,” the department said in a Facebook post.
The nonprofit Smokey Paws provides the special masks to UK fire services.
The group said on its website that “46% of households in the UK have pets and with over 40,000 house fires a year, it’s an unfortunate fact that pets die from smoke inhalation.”
An incident report about the fire published by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said four firefighters using breathing apparatus extinguished the blaze.
An update posted Sunday said the kitties were doing well.
The fast-acting firefighters received accolades for their purrrfect response.
“Well done and thank you for saving these beautiful little souls lives,” one Facebook user wrote.
Another said: “Well done red watch, you all deserve a medal.”