WELLS — The Wells Fire Department received a donation Tuesday night that first responders hope will limit the amount of pet deaths in fires.

The Fire Department received three animal oxygen mask kits through a donation from the Invisible Fence Brand Twin Cities, an organization that looks to improve the lives of pets.

The masks were equipped after Tuesday’s training session and demonstrations on the masks at the fire station.

Wells Fire Chief Guy Kimpton said he plans on using the masks immediately.

“I hope that if we run it immediately we can use it, and it will save a family pet,” Kimpton said. “If we can help them save their pet, it’d be great.”

The donation can help families, said Kim Radke, trainer at Invisible Fence Brand Twin Cities.

“Pets are becoming more of family members, and it allows firefighters to save and rescue pets that have been in fires,” Radke said.

Radke said the fire department contacted the company requesting the donation.

She said a lot of the Twin Cities fire departments have similar operations.

The donation was made as part of Project Breathe, meant to equip all fire stations and rescue units with the oxygen masks.

An estimated 40,000 to 150,000 pets each year die in fires — most to smoke inhalation, according to a news release.

In most states emergency responders are unequipped to deal with the crisis and the donation of the oxygen masks enables rescue squads to efficiently administer oxygen to an animal, according to Invisible Fence.

The news release states the company has donated more than 12,400 pet oxygen masks to fire stations all over the U.S. and Canada. More than 120 pets have been saved by the donated masks so far, including a dog and her puppies saved on Nov. 5 in Blaine by a department that just received a Project Breathe donation this July.