The fire chief of Bakersfield, Calif., is stepping up personally to report on the improved condition of a patient that firefighters rescued from a burning home and brought back to life using an oxygen mask: Jack, a white-haired pooch.

In a video posted to the Bakersfield Fire Department's website, firefighter Matt Smith is shown carrying the nearly lifeless Shih Tzu from a burning house on Wednesday.

Using a pet oxygen mask supplied by the Girl Scouts, Smith and his partners slowly bring Jack back to life.

By the end of the video, Jack is sitting up, alert and looking around, though panting heavily. He was then reunited with his worried owners, a married couple who were unharmed by the fire.

Fire chief Douglas Greener says on Facebook that Jack suffered some respiratory tract injuries and burns to his feet, but is doing well under a vet's care. He has also gotten a visit at the vet hospital from his rescuer, firefighter Smith.

Greener says Bakersfield firefighters carry many pets from burning buildings every year, but "unfortunately, not all outcomes are as happy."

"But we truly do believe that all lives matter and protecting pets, livestock, and wildlife is definitely part of the broader BFD mission in serving the community," he said.

Fire department spokesman John Frando, who shot the video of Jack’s rescue, said it looked so grim at one point for the pooch that he stopped recording.

“I thought Jack was going to die,” he said. “He was in really bad shape.”

Frando said Smith found Jack behind a couch in the home, which was billowing with smoke by the time they arrived.

Contributing: Associated Press

