In California, a firefighter went above and beyond the call of duty to save a dog who was overcome by heat and smoke during a recent apartment building fire in Santa Monica. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they discovered a lifeless dog named Nalu, who showed no signs of breathing and had no pulse.

“I found him amidst all the smoke and heat,” firefighter Andrew Klein recounted to KABC. “As soon as I grabbed him, I could tell he was unresponsive just by his limp body weight.”

Klein immediately administered CPR to the puppy, commonly referred to as “mouth-to-snout,” and then placed him in an oxygen mask. After approximately 20 minutes, the dog started to breathe on his own. He regained consciousness and began to move around. Concerned neighbors stepped in and transported Nalu to a nearby animal hospital.

Nalu’s owner, Crystal Lamirande, returned home to discover her apartment engulfed in flames. Despite her valiant efforts to rescue Nalu, a Bichon Frise/Shih Tzu mix, she was unable to navigate through the dense smoke. According to KABC, Lamirande lost all her belongings in the fire but has formed a newfound friendship with her local fire department.

“It was truly incredible because I’ve been involved in many animal rescues like this that didn’t have the same outcome as Nalu’s story,” Klein shared with KTLA. “Getting him back was undeniably a victory for the entire team and the department.”

The firefighters swiftly extinguished the fire within 10 minutes, ensuring the safety of all human occupants. The heroic rescue of Nalu serves as a testament to the unwavering dedication and compassion displayed by firefighters in protecting both human and animal lives in their community.