St. Paul firefighters used small pet oxygen masks to revive two cats after a fire in a Dayton’s Bluff apartment Thursday afternoon.

A 5-year-old playing with fire in his bedroom accidentally caused the blaze in the 1100 block of East Fourth Street about 1:15 p.m., according to the fire department.

The fire was contained to the boy’s room, but there was smoke and water damage throughout that unit and a couple of neighboring units had smoke damage, said St. Paul Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard.

A dispatcher told a woman in the affected apartment to leave, but she wouldn’t without her cats, Zaccard said. She searched and got the cats out — one had trouble breathing and the other was unconscious, he said.

In 2014, the St. Paul fire department received a donation of 36 pet oxygen mask kits to allow firefighters to help dogs and cats after a fire. Firefighters use them a couple of times a year and were able to revive the cats with them Thursday, Zaccard said.

“We’re glad that we have firefighters that are equipped and trained to assist not only people, but their pets,” Zaccard said. “Pets are important family members as well … people love and grieve over their pets if they lose them.” Related Articles St. Stanislaus’ longtime priest the Rev. John Clay leaves legacy of love. He died Sunday at age 94

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Damage to the building was estimated at $40,000. The American Red Cross is providing temporary housing to the people in the unit where the fire started, Zaccard said.

The St. Paul fire department reminded people Thursday of the Youth Fire Play Intervention Program, which is for children who have started with fires or played with fire. Information is available by calling 651-228-6203.