Pet Fire Safety Prevention Day July 15th
Pet Fire Safety Day
If you envision a fire truck in your mind’s eye, you mostly likely also see the Dalmatian sitting on top of the bright red fire truck. The history of Dalmatians and firefighters dates back a century to the days of the horse and carriage. The Dalmatians, known for their stamina and endurance, would typically run beside the horse and carriage, fending off other dogs or animals that might startle the horses on their way to the fire. As wagons replaced carriages, the Dalmatians continued to play a key role partnering with the firefighters. They would alert passers-by to stay out of the way as the sirens blared and the wagons raced toward the fire. At the scene of the fire, the dogs were important in guarding the wagon and keeping the horses and onlookers calm as they stood by watching the fir fighters battle the blaze . Even today, you may still see a Dalmatian as a “firehouse dog” co-existing with fightfighters at your local fire station as well as visiting local schools and community centers to teach fire safety .
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that fire departments responded to 1,291,500 fires in the year 2019 with 360,000 of those being house fires. Pet Fire Safety Day is recognized every July 15th to bring attention to the risks of fire and our beloved pets. It is estimated that 40,000 pets are killed yearly in house fires and that pets are actually responsible for approximately 1000 of those house fires per year.
So how do we protect our pets and our house from fire?
Most fires are started with the pets surfing around the stove top. Others are related to chewing electrical cords or turning over burning candles.
To prevent house fires:
- Keep pets away from stoves when in use by securing pets in another room or gating off the kitchen
- If your pet can reach the knobs on the stove, keep covers on them
- Unplug all electrical appliances such as curling irons and hair dryers when you leave the home
- Have fire extinguishers throughout the house and know how to use them.
- Have working smoke detectors through the house and check the batteries regularly
- Keep a collar with proper identification on your dog in case he escapes on his own from the burning house. Check your dog’s microchip yearly and update demographic information as needed
- Keep a leash for each pet near the door
- If you have to leave a burning house without your pet, leave a door open and call him from a safe distance from the fire
- Place Pet Fire Safety Window Clings at each door of your house. The clings allow you to document how many pets you have in the house and of what kind – dog, cat, bird, rabbit, other
- Indicate your dog’s preferred hiding place on the cling. You can also have a drawing of the layout of your home in the even that firefighters have to try and locate your dog in the burning house
- Have family fire drills so everyone knows how to get out safely and who is in charge of getting the pets out
Use this July 15th Pet Fire Safety Day to review your risk of fire and to establish an escape plan and to scheduled regular fire drills. With a little planning, you can prevent unnecessary house fires and keep your family and pets safe.
