Each year, approximately 40,000 pets perish in house fires. More than 500,000 pets are affected by house fires, and 1,000 house fires are actually started by pets themselves. It’s not fun to think about, but it’s necessary to ensure you have a plan in place to protect your whole family – furry members included – in case of a fire.
This National Pet Fire Safety Day, we provide tips to help keep your best friends safe.
PREVENTING A FIRE
Open flame exposure is one of the most common ways that your pet may accidentally start a fire in your home. Never have unsupervised candles or fires in your fireplace. Instead, flameless candles and an enclosed fireplace are good ways to prevent open flames from causing trouble. Additionally, putting covers over stove knobs and discouraging climbing in the kitchen can help prevent your pet from bumping up against a dial and accidentally filling your house with gas.
As your pets wander around the house, they may chew on loose wires, making areas with lamps and plugs possible fire hazards. Secure loose wires and ensure they are out of reach from your pets. When outside, never put a glass bowl on a wooden porch as the sun’s rays can heat the bowl, causing a fire on your wooden deck. Try using a ceramic water bowl or stainless-steal dishes instead.
PREPARING FOR A FIRE
The number one step in preparing your pet and family for a fire is to determine an emergency plan that includes your pet. Make sure to practice this plan with the whole family so that everyone knows whose job it is to grab your pet and your pet disaster preparedness kit (food, medication, water, a photo of your pet, leashes and carriers, and medical records). Assigning roles will reduce scrambling when efficiency is needed. To act quickly when searching for your pet, make sure you know where he or she likes to hide and how to get him or her out of that hiding spot quickly, making it easier for you to locate and retrieve your pet as quickly as possible.
If you are unable to quickly retrieve your pet or are not home at the time of the fire, put a decal or sticker in your home’s front window indicating the number and type of pets you have. This will cut down on the time firefighters spend searching for your pet. In case your pet escapes during the course of a fire, make sure that the contact information on their collar and microchip is up to date. Finally, to help ensure your pets get as much help as they can even if you are not home, install smoke detectors connected to emergency response services so that even if your pet is home alone, should a fire occur, help can still be signaled and dispatched.
DURING A FIRE
As part of your emergency response plan, make sure to grab your pet’s leash or carrier as you escape the building. Outside your home will be chaotic, and your pet may try to escape to a safer area, so it is important to keep them nearby and secure. If it takes too long to locate or secure your pets, as much as you may not want to, leave, open the door, and call for them once you are outside and at a safe distance from the fire. You should never delay escape or endanger yourself or your family. Once responders get there, immediately inform them your pet is still inside so they can continue looking for your beloved furry friend.
