National Pet Fire Safety Day

July 15 is National Pet Fire Safety Day. This is a day to focus on keeping you and your pets safe, whether at home or enjoying the great outdoors. No matter where you are with your pet, the key to fire safety is prevention.

Safety Tips at Home

According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 1,000 house fires per year are started accidentally by pets. An estimated 500,000 pets are affected annually by home fires.

A few preventative measures will help prevent a house fire from starting and could mean the difference between life and death for your four-legged friends.

• Never ever leave an open flame unattended.
• Remove stove knobs or protect them with covers. Note that a stove or cook top is the number one piece of equipment involved in a pet starting a fire.
• Consider flameless candles. Cats are notorious for knocking over candles with their tails, overturning lamps or space heaters, or spreading hot embers from fireplaces or ashtrays.
• Check for potential fire hazards such as loose wires, stove knobs and piles of paper or other rubbish.
• Confine young pets when you are away from home in a safe, secure area.
• Use stainless steel or ceramic water dishes on wooden decks. Filtered and heated through glass and water, the sun’s rays can ignite the wood beneath the bowl.

Help in the Event of a Fire

• Be sure to include pets in your family fire drills, including who is responsible for each pet in case of an emergency.
• Pet doors can provide an escape route.
• Consider monitored smoke detectors to contact emergency responders. These provide an extra level of safety over smoke alarms.
• Tech Tip – surveillance cameras can be remotely accessed through smartphones, iPads or computers.
• Keep pets near entrances where they can be easily located by rescuers in the event of a fire. Post critical information in a front window using a window cling or sticker. Include the number of pets and where they can be found. Be sure to keep this updated.
• Keep collars on pets and leashes near doors for first responders to lead pets to safety.

Safety Tips around the Campfire

We all love to take our dogs with us to enjoy the great outdoors, but remember that campfires and dogs don’t mix. Before you even light a fire, teach your dog to stay away.

• Once a fire is burning, be sure to keep pets far enough away to protect them from sparks and smoke.
• Never share food with pets around a campfire. Food becomes an added distraction from the dangers of open flames.
• Keep in mind that fires hold heat for a long time after the flames are gone.
• Sticks can be an irresistible temptation. Don’t allow dogs to play with the firewood…and be sure to put your axe safely away.

Keeping these fire safety tips in mind all year round will give you peace of mind and help keep you and your furry friends safe no matter where you roam.