PETS across Devon and Somerset have a better chance of surviving household fires – thanks to new oxygen masks for animals being carried on selected fire engines.

The funding for the sets of specially-designed masks has been provided by Pets at Home through its instore reward scheme.

Of the eight fire stations, North Tawton is to benefit from the scheme, with the other seven at Barnstaple, Bridgwater, Brixham, Burnham-on-Sea, Ottery St Mary, Topsham and Wellington.

Station Manager Dean Hastie, of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I appreciate how important pets can be to some families and individuals. If this goes just that bit further to help improve the chances of survival for a pet, then it’s worth every effort.

“Many pet owners live alone and rely on their company for support, so this is just as important to their welfare as well as the pet in a stressful fire situation.”

Pets at Home donated the money for the sets of masks to Smokey Paws, the not-for-profit organisation trying to help family pets in the event of a fire.

This donation of pet oxygen masks is one of 75 made by Pets at Home to fire stations across the UK, working in partnership with Smokey Paws, which imports the apparatus from the USA.

Smokey Paws’ mission is to raise enough money through public donations, to equip every first responder in the UK with these lifesaving masks.

For more information about Smokey Paws please see its website: www.smokeypaws.co.uk .