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Four cats were rescued from a California apartment fire

Firefighters used CPR, oxygen and rescue breathing to revive the animals

All four cats survived and were reunited with their owner

Four cats are recovering after California firefighters rescued them from a smoke-filled apartment and received on-site CPR.

The dramatic rescue unfolded in Riverside County after firefighters extinguished an apartment fire and were preparing to leave the scene when a neighbor informed crews that several pets were still trapped inside the building, Local12 reported.

Firefighters Dave Colombo and Ray Guillen immediately went back into the apartment to search for the animals. Inside, they found four cats hiding beneath a bed. However, the animals were unresponsive after being exposed to heavy smoke.

“As soon as I grabbed it, it fell over,” Guillen recalled of one of the cats. “You could tell it was in bad shape.”

The firefighters carried the cats outside, where Capt. Mark Lewan and other crew members quickly began emergency treatment.

Video released by the Riverside County Fire Department showed firefighters working to revive the animals on the ground beside a fire engine. Crews administered oxygen using masks adapted to fit the cats’ faces and performed CPR techniques similar to those used on infants.

Lewan also provided rescue breathing to one of the animals. “I gave him mouth-to-snout and started rescue breathing for the cat, hoping to revive him and get him to start breathing again,” he said.

The lifesaving efforts paid off and all four cats regained consciousness and survived the ordeal, according to Local12. Fire officials said the animals were later reunited with their owner and are continuing to recover.

No other injuries were reported.

While pets may survive the flames of a house fire, smoke inhalation can quickly become life-threatening, particularly when animals become trapped indoors. Fire officials say specialized equipment, including pet oxygen masks, along with quick action from trained crews, can significantly improve an animal’s chances of survival.

Read the original article on People