Some Massachusetts firefighters just went above and beyond to rescue a small raccoon who had become trapped in a sewer grate.

It all started earlier this week, when a bicyclist in Newton spotted a raccoon whose head had gotten stuck between the bars of a sewer grate. The firefighters said that the raccoon had been using both paws to cling to the grate for support, and that he had been stuck there for “quite a while.”

None of the firefighters at the Newton Police Department had been trained to deal with this kind of situation, but they rushed in to help anyway.

“We rescue citizens both big and small,” the department tweeted after the rescue.

We rescue citizens both big and small!!!

— Newton Fire (@NewtonFireDept) August 1, 2019

It took two hours and eight firefighters, but they were finally able to get the raccoon free again. Firefighters typically use soapy water to free trapped animals, and though they say this “works 99% of the time,” it didn’t in this case.

When this failed, they called in animal rescue services to sedate the raccoon, and once this happened, they were able to free the animal with some gentle nudging and tugging. The raccoon has since been taken to a nearby wildlife rehabilitation center, where it will be monitored until it is dubbed well enough to be released back into the wild.

Always willing to help our 4 legged friends! It was quite the operation. https://t.co/wgFXzrhnWQ

— Newton Fire (@NewtonFireDept) August 1, 2019

The firefighters received tons of praise when they posted photos of the rescue on Twitter, but while they say it was “quite the operation,” they also humbly insist that they are “always willing to help their 4-legged friends.” God bless all American firefighters across the country who carry out heroic deeds like this every day!