National Pet Fire Safety Day
When was the last time you thought about your pets and fire safety? I know it isn’t something that I have given a whole lot of thought to, but it is time to change that. Today is National Pet Fire Safety Day, so let’s all take a few minutes and think about how we can keep, not only our 2 legged family members safe, but also how to keep our dogs, cats, and other pets safe as well!
Why have I been thinking about pet fire safety? Recently, a fellow pet photographer friend had a tragic loss – her home caught on fire and 6 of her 7 pets were lost within 30 minutes. I was so shaken by her experience that it has really made me think, so I decided to do a little research. According to the United States Fire Administration, an estimated 500,000 pets are affected annually by fires, and 40,000 pets die each year in house fires. Shocking numbers, right?! And guess what – the National Fire Protection Association estimates that nearly 1,000 home fires each year are accidentally started by the homeowners’ pets.
I called the Annapolis, Maryland Fire Department and asked them a few questions. Their education specialist, Sharon New, confirmed that these grim statistics are in line with what they see right here in Maryland’s Anne Arundel County. So what can we do to help protect our home, our family, and our pets? It starts by knowing some of the leading causes of house fires, using common sense, and having a good plan.
The #1 type of house fires in America today are kitchen-related, followed by electrical fires, and rounding out the top three, lit cigarettes. Open flames, such as candles and fireplaces are also leading causes.
Sharon told me of a recent fire in the area which was started because a woman left her lamp on while she was out, not necessarily a bad thing, and something many of us do for our pets. But, her cat tipped the lamp over, the bulb hit the drapes and eventually started the fire. At least one of the her 2 cats died as a result of the fire.
Simple preventative measures, such as removing stove knobs or using stove knob covers, using flameless candles, and installing early detection smoke detectors that trigger a call to a home security company, can literally mean the difference between life and death for our pets.
I read a story of a dog who thought she would sample a spice cake on top of the stove, only to accidentally hit one of the knobs, turning the gas burner on, which happened to be under the cake pan. Within minutes, the house filled with smoke, triggering the ADT monitored smoke detector. With early detection, firefighters were able to save the house and the (still hungry) pup was rescued! That story had a very happy ending, but so many do not.
Some tips pulled together from AKC and ADT to help prevent pets from starting fires:
Extinguish open flames – Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home.
Remove stove knobs – Be sure to remove stove knobs or protect them with covers before leaving the house. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a stove or cook top is the number one piece of equipment involved in your pet starting a fire.
Invest in flameless candles – These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open flame, and take the danger out of your pet knocking over a candle. Cats are notorious for starting fires when their tails turn over lit candles.
Beware of water bowls on wooden decks – Do not leave a glass water bowl for your pet outside on a wooden deck. The sun’s rays when filtered through the glass and water can actually heat up and ignite the wooden deck beneath it. Choose stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead.
Some additional tips to help keep pets safe:
Keep Pets Near Entrances When Away From Home – Keep collars on pets and leashes at the ready in case firefighters need to rescue your pet. When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.
Secure Young Pets – Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home such as in crates or behind baby gates in secure areas.
Since Pets Left Alone Can’t Escape a Burning Home – Consider using monitored smoke detectors which are connected to a monitoring center so emergency responders can be contacted when you’re not home. These systems provide an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms.
Affix a Pet Alert Window Cling – Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the static cling to a front window. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets. Make sure to update the number of pets listed. A side note about this, because so many of these stickers, for both children and pets, have not been removed or updated over the years, it is debatable whether or not firefighters actually pay attention to them. But I figure, it can’t hurt!
During my conversation with Sharon, here in Annapolis, she pointed out a few very important things to remember:
The best way to protect your pets from the effects of a fire is to include them in your family plan. This includes having their own disaster supply kit as well as arranging in advance for a safe place for them to stay if you need to leave your home
In addition to testing your smoke detector twice a year (when entering or leaving daylight savings time), it is vitally important to have an escape plan for the family, and practice it! Do fire drills. Assign someone to be in charge of the animals, but make sure that any children in the family know that this is NOT THEIR JOB. Children need to understand that their #1 job is to get themselves out of the house as soon as possible. If firefighters are not spending time looking for children, they will be able to spend time looking for pets who haven’t already made their way out.
Some tips on fire safety for your pets
I hope you found this post informative and will share the information with all of your animal loving friends. I would love to hear your thoughts and any addition tips you might have – please share your experiences, tips, and comments below! And please visit my friend’s loving tribute to the beloved pets she lost. I know it will be of little comfort to Carol now, but I do hope that through her loss, many will be like me and gain valuable knowledge that might one day save the lives of their pets.
Until next time, have joy in your heart, a smile on your face, and a dog by your side!
Bonnie
