British firefighters revived a snake using a breathing apparatus usually reserved for human rescues.

A fire broke out at a flat in the British town of Tipton on Sunday.

Pet iguanas, tortoises, terrapins and parrots were also evacuated. But firefighters judged the snake had suffered a lot of smoke inhalation and decided to use an oxygen mask to revive it, according to the BBC.

"We had to administer oxygen therapy to the snake - which wasn't an easy task. We hadn't dealt with anything like it before," said a member of the fire crew.

The resident of the flat was taken to a hospital but is not believed to be injuired.

The oxygen treatment seemed to work for the corn snake. "We gave the snake oxygen and it recovered. It's unusual, but all part of the service," added a fire crew member.