Delta firefighters are now better equipped to deal with four-legged fire victims thanks to a donation from one of Delta's Lions clubs.
The Delta Scottsdale Lions Club recently donated more than $2,500 to the department to purchase pet oxygen masks. The donation allowed the department to purchase 21 of the mask kits, which include three different sized masks that can be used with the existing oxygen tanks, and leashes. Fire Chief Dan Copeland said the different sized masks mean Delta firefighters will be able to treat a variety of pets, including dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, rabbits and guinea pigs.
The specially-designed masks can be used on both conscious pets that have suffered some inhalation as well as pets that need to be resuscitated.
Copeland said the department always encourages residents to get out of a burning building as quickly as possible and firefighters will go in looking for pets. He said most animals are good at finding short-term refuge in a fire.
"Very few pets burn to death, it's the toxins in the smoke that gets them," he said.
Until now, firefighters didn't have the means to revive a pet that was rescued during a fire or to give animals the oxygen needed in cases of smoke inhalation.
The kits are now on all the department's first line trucks.
