Pet Fire Safety

Photo credit Sam Beebe www.flickr.com

July 15 is National Pet Fire Safety Day. Every year, nearly 1000 home fires are started in the United States by a household pet. The most common cause is a dog or cat jumping up on a gas stove and turning the knob, igniting whatever is on the stove. One of our own clients suffered this tragedy a couple years ago when his basset hound jumped on the stove to get to a bag of kibble. The firefighters were able to resuscitate the basset, but another dog in the home died in the fire and the house was destroyed. 

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How to protect your home and your pets:

1. Extinguish all open flames
Never leave a flame unattended - candles, incense, oil wick candles, and oil lamps are common sources of flames in the home that a curious cat could knock over. Opt for flame-less candles instead. That way, your cat can't accidentally singe her fur by hitting the candle with her tail even when you're in the room. Be prudent with fireplaces - use a protective grate while the fire is going, and extinguish it fully before leaving the room.

Photo credit Russell Bernice www.flickr.com

2. Protect the stove
Use the child-proofing knob covers or remove the knobs of gas stoves so that a pet can't accidentally turn the knob and start a fire. Also, make sure that there is nothing left on top of the stove that could burn should the burner accidentally light.

​3. Beware of glass water bowls on wooden decks
It sounds crazy, but if the sunlight hits a wooden bowl in just the right way it can act like a magnifying glass, potentially setting fire to the wood underneath it. This also applies to any outdoor glass ornaments or mirrors that could focus the sun's rays. Use ceramic or stainless steel bowls instead.

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 When you're not home:
Keep young pets confined so they can't get into trouble and are easy to find in case of emergency.

Consider leaving pets in rooms close to the entrances/exits of the home so they're easy to rescue. Ideally, your pets should stay in a part of the home with 2 exits so that they are less likely to be trapped.

Since pets can't escape a burning home on their own, consider monitored smoke alarms so that a company can be alerted if the alarms go off, and the fire department dispatched even when you're not home.

​Affix a pet window cling - firefighters must prioritize human lives, but they will usually save pets whenever possible. A window decal with a date and information about the number and type of pets can help rescue personnel be on the alert for your pet family.

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