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Protecting Your Pets In the Event of a Fire

Sunday, December 8, 2013
posted by Jim Murphy

DOG FIREI read a disturbing article in the newspaper this morning. There was a house fire in a neighboring town and many residents were scrambling to save and locate their pets. One of the worse things to imagine is that you have a fire in your home, you and the rest of your family got out safely but your dog or cat is stuck inside. What do you do? One women at the fire yesterday tried to run back in the burning building to try to rescue her cat. She was stopped by a firefighter. Never try to run back into a burning building. The Red Cross as documented some safety measures that you can take in the event of a house fire.

The American Kennel Club and ADT Security Services have joined forces to provide the following tips:

  •  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 – 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.
  • Secure young pets; 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.

Help Firefighters Help Your Pets

  • 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.
  • Affix a pet alert window cling and 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 keep the number of pets listed on them updated.

Luckily all the pets in the house fire were rescued safely but don’t take chances, develop an escape plan that includes your pets. Keep pet carriers very close to the exits or keep them in a spot that is readily available.

Remember, your pets count!

 

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