Fire Safety and Your Pet

10/11/2021 (Permalink)

Pet Fire Safety

According to an article on the American Red Cross website, the National Fire Protection Association estimates that one thousand (1000) house fires can be attributed to pets each year.  With this fact in mind they compiled a list of helpful, best practices to protect your home, your family and pet. 

• Have a Home Fire Escape Plan and include your pets. Formulating and implementing an escape plan is simple and requires little time.  Simply diagram exit and escape routes.  Create a meeting spot.  Plan for second story egress, elderly, children and pets.  Make sure everyone knows their role and responsibility.  Practice your escape plan twice a year.
• Make sure you have proper working smoke detectors. Have monitored smoke detectors that are tied to a central station.  Check batteries of detectors monthly.  Make sure all occupants of the home know the sound of the alarm.
• Place a sticker on door or window to alert fire fighters of how many pets are in the home.
• Keep pets near an exit door so they can be easily found and rescued.
• Keep pets away from open flames like candles and fire places. Never leave pet unattended where there is an open flame.
• Crate young or untrained pets to prevent them from chewing electrical wires and causing a fire.
• Remove knobs from stoves to prevent accidently turning on a stove eye.
• Keep a collar on your pet to aid in rescue if necessary.
• Prepare a disaster or displacement kit for your pets.
• Pre-plan a location to house your pets if you have a fire and are displaced.
• Never delay your escape from a burning building to save your pet.