All fire engines in Essex now carry Smokey Paws pet-friendly oxygen masks.

The oxygen masks, bought from a non-profit organisation called Smokey Paws, are specifically designed to provide essential care to pets at the scene of a house fire. The animal masks have a conical shape to fit over the snout, meaing they fit better and provide more oxygen than a human mask would.

Essex Fire & Rescue operational group trainer, Paul Jones said: “Firefighters attend a wide range of incidents and providing oxygen to animals through a makeshift system is nothing new. However, the introduction of the Smokey Paws equipment allows us to upskill crews to provide evidence-based trauma care and give a better service to our communities. Having these masks on every fire engine in Essex will make a big difference.”

Training has been provided by the  British Animal Rescue Trauma Care Association.