Pet oxygen masks for Joe Rich Fire Rescue

KELOWNA – When Joe Rich Fire Rescue trucks roll, pet oxygen masks will now be on board.

That’s thanks to a donation from the Imperial Order of Daughters of the Empire (IODE).

Vice-President Monique Tanguay presented a pet mask kit to Joe Rich Fire Rescue Chief Ben Wasyliuk.

The kit contains three different sized masks that form a better seal around an animal’s nose and snout, so that firefighters can deliver oxygen to an animal suffering from smoke inhalation.

Chief Wasyliuk says with the generous donation, it’s hoped that Joe Rich fire crews will be able to increase the chance of an animal surviving a fire.

Joe Rich is the second RDCO fire department to be equipped with pet oxygen masks.   In 2014, the Ellison Fire Department received pet oxygen masks that were donated by the Canadian Animal Disaster Response Team.