Riverside County firefighters rescued four unresponsive cats from a smoke-filled apartment, using adapted oxygen masks, infant-style CPR and mouth-to-snout rescue breathing to revive them. All four animals regained consciousness, were reunited with their owner and are recovering. Fire officials note smoke inhalation is often deadlier than flames and stress the value of pet oxygen masks and quick, trained responses.
Firefighters Revive Four Cats With 'Mouth-to-Snout' CPR After Riverside Apartment Fire
Firefighters performing CPR and administering assistance to several cats on a grass fieldCredit: CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department
Four cats are recovering after Riverside County firefighters rescued them from a smoke-filled apartment and revived them with on-scene CPR, rescue breathing and adapted oxygen masks.
The blaze was already extinguished when crews were preparing to leave the scene and a neighbor alerted them that pets might still be inside, according to local reports. Firefighters Dave Colombo and Ray Guillen immediately re-entered the unit and found four cats hiding beneath a bed. The animals were unresponsive after heavy smoke exposure.
'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 began emergency treatment on the pavement beside a fire engine. Video released by the Riverside County Fire Department shows crews fitting oxygen masks adapted to the animals' faces and performing infant-style CPR to stimulate breathing and circulation.
Lewan said he used mouth-to-snout rescue breathing on one cat: 'I gave him mouth-to-snout and started rescue breathing for the cat, hoping to revive him and get him to start breathing again.' Their efforts were successful — all four cats regained consciousness and survived the ordeal. Fire officials later reunited the animals with their owner, and no other injuries were reported.
Why This Matters
Fire departments stress that smoke inhalation is often more dangerous than flames for pets trapped indoors. Rapid action by trained crews, along with specialized tools such as pet oxygen masks, can significantly increase an animal's chance of survival.
Sources: Riverside County Fire Department video; local reports via Local12 and People.
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