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Firefighters don\u2019t just rescue people from burning homes or cats stuck in trees \u2014 they also carry tiny oxygen masks for birds in distress.<\/p>\n
The Oakland Fire Department\u00a0posted a\u00a0video<\/a>\u00a0Tuesday showing a firefighter helping a pigeon after responding to a vehicle fire. The OFD said the pigeon approached the Engine 29 crew after suffering smoke inhalation from the fire, so they offered aid by administering oxygen to its beak.<\/p>\n In the clip that\u2019s going viral online, the bird could be seen inhaling oxygen through a tiny mask. The pigeon flew away shortly after clearing out its lungs, the fire department said.<\/p>\n See video of the heartwarming rescue:<\/p>\n The short video picked up more than 11 million views in 24 hours, as well as nearly a million \u201clikes\u201d on social media.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for helping,\u201d a pigeon rescue organization wrote on Instagram.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not the first pigeon\u00a0Oakland\u00a0fire dept has saved – these guys are THE BEST,\u201d another commenter said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf this is what the $400 from my paycheck goes to then by all means. In fact, take a little more I\u2019ll manage,\u201d a third wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cSources say the insurance company is finding a way to bill the bird as we speak,\u201d another joked.<\/p>\n \u201cFirefighters will always be the true heros in my mind. This speaks more about their character and their soul than anything ever could,\u201d a fifth comment added.<\/p>\n According to\u00a0The Oaklandside<\/a>, the incident occurred Sunday morning when\u00a0Oakland\u00a0Fire Engine 29 responded to a vehicle burning beneath a highway overpass on\u00a075th Avenue\u00a0in\u00a0East Oakland, California. Emergency responders in the Bay Area previously helped a baby chick that fell down a storm drain while crossing\u00a0Mandana Boulevard\u00a0with its mama, eventually reuniting it with the mallard duck in 2023.<\/p>\n \u00a92026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit\u00a0syracuse.com<\/a>. Distributed by\u00a0Tribune Content Agency, LLC.<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n