Firefighters Pulled 3 Dogs and 3 Cats From a Burning Phoenix Home. Some Needed Oxygen to Survive

When Phoenix firefighters rolled up to a small house near 37th Street and Van Buren on Sunday, smoke was already pouring out. Three people had made it outside. Six beloved pets were still inside.

What happened next is why more and more fire crews now carry oxygen gear made for animals — not just people.

Smoke Pouring From a Small Home

Around noon on Sunday, October 11, Phoenix Fire Department crews responded to a house fire in central Phoenix near 37th Street and Van Buren Street. When they arrived, smoke and flames were coming from a small residential home.

All three residents, including a 79-year-old woman, had already escaped safely before firefighters got there. No people were injured. But the house was not empty.

Inside, crews found three dogs and three cats.

Six Pets, One Blaze

While some firefighters stretched hose lines to fight the fire, others searched for anyone — or anything — still trapped. They brought out six animals in all.

Photos and video shared by the department showed pets in firefighters’ arms and, for the ones who needed it most, something special over their muzzles: Fido masks. These are oxygen masks designed specifically for animals, donated in Phoenix’s case with help from the Fetch Foundation.

Captain DJ Lee told local reporters that regular human oxygen masks do not fit a dog’s or cat’s face well. The pet masks hook to the same air supply and give animals a real chance when smoke has filled their lungs.

Revived With Fido Masks

Phoenix Fire said some of the animals were revived with oxygen and the Fido masks. Other pets appeared conscious when they were carried out and were held by firefighters while their housemates were treated.

All six were taken to a nearby animal hospital for further care through the Arizona Humane Society. Local coverage has not named the individual pets or published a full update on each animal’s condition after they left the scene, so those details are not yet clear.

What is clear is this: without crews trained and equipped for pet rescue, Sunday could have ended very differently for that household.

A Grandmother Starting Over

Three people were displaced by the fire. Family members described a grandmother’s life turned upside down — her home damaged, her pets hurt, and the long road of starting over ahead.

Community Assistance Program staff responded to help with immediate needs, and a GoFundMe was set up for the 79-year-old woman. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Captain Lee said even saw operators on the crew were sharing air from their tanks to help pets as they brought them out. “We’re going to use whatever we can to help these pets,” he said.

What Pet Owners Can Do Before a Fire

Firefighters and the Arizona Humane Society remind pet parents that a few steps can save minutes when every second counts:

• Put a pet alert sticker on a front window listing how many animals live inside.
• Keep leashes, carriers and a go-bag near the door.
• Make sure microchips and collar tags are up to date.
• Practice getting pets out quickly. Animals panic in smoke, and first-time evacuations often go wrong.
• Never run back into a burning home for a pet. Tell arriving crews exactly where to look.

On one hard Sunday in Phoenix, six animals got a second chance because firefighters were ready for them. Somewhere in that neighborhood tonight, a family is grateful those Fido masks were on the truck.