Protecting Pets from Home Fires

Prevention is key when it comes to pet fire safety. Take proactive measures to minimize the fire hazards in your home. This includes securing any loose wires or cords that may attract your pets to chew on or play with. Keep all pets away from lit candles or use flameless ones instead. It’s also a good idea to keep all flammable items such as cleaning supplies, chemicals, and lighters away and out of reach of animals. 

Smoke detectors are a critical part of fire detection. However, they can easily stress out your pets during their loud alarms. They sell fire and smoke alarms that have voice recordings instead of loud alarms. These detectors can also be connected to your smartphone allowing you to check on your pet’s safety remotely and be notified if there is a fire emergency.  

During an emergency, it may slip your mind to notify firefighters that there are pets in your home. There are pet stickers available to purchase for your doors and windows to inform emergency responders of the number and type of pets you have. Make sure to update the stickers if you add new pets or move to a different residence. 

Every homeowner should have a fire emergency plan in place for their home and family. It’s important to include your pets in this plan as well. Have multiple escape routes and practice them with your family and pets at least twice a year. Make sure to keep all necessary pet items like leashes and carriers in an easily accessible location.  

During a fire emergency, pets may panic and attempt to escape. This is why it’s important that all their information is up to date. Check all collars and identification tags frequently and update them if your information changes. You can also microchip your pet. This is in case of their collar coming off, you can look up your pet’s location by their chip number.  

In addition to your family’s emergency kit, assemble a pet-specific emergency kit. Include essential items such as food, water, medications, a first-aid kit, blankets, and comfort items. Store the kit in a portable container and keep it readily accessible. It’s also helpful to include recent photos of your pets in case you need to identify them after a fire.