Pets & Fires

July 15th is National Pet Fire Safety Day! The American Kennel Club and ADT Security Services sponsor the annual day on July 15th to bring awareness to the ability of pets to accidentally cause fires, and how to prevent these fires!

How to help prevent your pet from starting fires:

• Extinguish Open Flames - Cooking appliances, candles, fireplace etc. Pets are notoriously curious and will investigate!

• Remove or Cover Stove Knobs - The stove is the number one fire causing equipment involving your pets! Because of the smells that linger on the stove, your pets are more likely to jump or play around the stove.

• Use Flameless Candles - Cats commonly start fires when their tails turn over lit candles!

• Don't Use Glass Bowls Outside - the sunlight can be focused using the bowl and heat a wooden deck/chair/table etc and ignite it!

How to Keep your pets safe:

• Keep your pets' collars on and leashes ready by the door. If your pets need rescuing, it can save precious minutes for firefighters. If your pets are left alone, keep them in areas/rooms near the entrances where they are easy to find.

• Use crate training or baby gates to secure potential risk areas in your home - especially from curious puppies!

• Consider using monitored smoke alarms. Who is going to call emergency responders if your pets are home alone?

• Use Pet Alert Window Clings - these alerts are based on the same principle as the Child Alert Fireman clings. Keep updated information including number and types of animals.

Please remember - a firefighter's first responsibility is to help the humans of the household - before the pets. Because seconds matter, keep your pet's collars on and keep them located by the entrance to make it easier for the emergency responders to save them as well.