Lucky rescue for dog trapped in car during California drought

A crew of US firefighters were called into action yesterday to free a dog trapped in a hot car in the capital of California.

The Sacramento Fire Department posted a video of the rescue on Facebook, showing the dog locked inside the vehicle.

The temperature inside the car was shown to be rapidly approaching 32 degrees Celsius.

"Please remember: Don't leave your dog in a car on a hot day," the department wrote in a Facebook message.

"Besides the obvious negative effect on the dog, fines can be up to $500."

US news website KCRA.com said the animal had not been badly injured by the experience and was now reunited with its owner.

The owner was not charged over the incident.

Leaving animals locked in hot cars can cause brain damage or even death from heatstroke in less than half an hour.

California is undergoing the worst drought in history.