According to AmericanHumane.org, over 500,000 pets are affected by house fires each year - and about 1,000 of those fires are started by the pets themselves. While this is a scary situation to think about - it is important to know how to prevent your pet from starting a fire and know what to do in the event of a fire in your home.
Some ways to prevent a fire in your home include:
Never leave candles in your home or the fireplace unsupervised. Using flameless candles or an enclosed fireplace will help you avoid disaster.
Put covers over stove knobs - or remove knobs from your stove. This will prevent your pet from accidentally hitting a knob and turning something on.
Make sure wires are out of your pet’s reach. Many pets (especially when they are young) have the tendency to chew on wires - which can be very dangerous.
Never put a glass bowl on a wooden deck in a space where the sun’s rays can heat the bowl and start a fire.
If a fire does occur in your home - there are some actions you should be taking:
Create an emergency plan - knowing where the people in your household should go is important in ensuring that everyone is safe.
Keep a kit with items for your pet in case an emergency occurs. (Food, medication, water, leash, carrier, and a photo of your pet are all great items to have handy).
If you are unable to take your pet with you when leaving your home - put a sticker on your window with information about the number and type of pet(s) you have in the home. This will help firefighters help you reunite safely with your pet quickly.
Being prepared for a disaster will help you, and your loved ones stay safe!
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