A 6-month-old dog got too curious outside a home in the Hastings area, according to fire officials. When the homeowner got home Monday morning, Fifi's head was firmly stuck inside one of the holes in a 30-pound concrete cinderblock.

Fifi isn't a blockhead any more.

Just ask the crew from St. Johns County Fire Station 8 following a novel rescue effort freed the Rottweiler puppy's head from being stuck in the concrete block Monday.

"Fifi was uninjured and is excited to be sniffing around again," fire officials said.

The 6-month-old dog got too curious outside a home in the Hastings area, according to fire officials. When the homeowner got home Monday morning, Fifi's head was firmly stuck inside one of the holes in a 30-pound concrete cinder block.

The owner tried to free Fifi from the cinder block, but nothing worked. A call to the St. Johns County Communications Center resulted in deputies arriving on the scene. They attempted to use soap and water to grease the dog's head free of the hole, fire officials said.

No soap, so to speak. But Fifi's knights in fireproof armor were en route.

The crew from Station 8 on Morrison Road rolled up and began to work to free the canine from the concrete. The ultimate solution — using the Jaws of Life, which can exert more than 19,000 pounds of pulling force, firefighters carefully cracked the block and freed the puppy, fire officials said.

Dan Scanlan: (904) 359-4549