Protecting Your Pet from a House Fire

by Ronel Forbes

October 13, 2022

Every year, 500 fires are started unintentionally by pets. Pets tipping over candles or leaning against stove knobs are the main causes of house fires. Keep your pet away from open flames, make sure they don’t chew on or mess with electrical cords or wires, and use kid and pet-safe heaters that turn off automatically when knocked over to prevent these fire threats.

You can use pet alert window decals, keep your pets confined to rooms near the front of the house, and have leashes and collars by the entrance at all times to maximize the likelihood that your pet will survive if a fire breaks out.

Here are some tips to avoid house fire because of your pet:

Limiting Pet Flame Exposure.

Avoid letting your pet near a flame. The largest and most obvious action you can take to lessen the possibility that your pet will unintentionally start a fire is to do this.

Candles are frequently knocked over by cats by unintentionally using their tails. Large dogs may lean on stove knobs and increase the temperature. Make sure your pet stays outside if you’re burning candles or using a range.

For instance, to keep dogs out, install baby gates.
To prevent your pets from being interested in the flame, shut the door to the room or area you’re in.
Keep jack-o-lanterns outside during Halloween and far from dry leaves, false spider webs, and other materials that could catch fire. If you don’t, your pet might knock them over and onto something flammable.

Include your pet in the evacuation plan for your house.

Making a home evacuation plan helps reduce the pressure of making decisions and make sure you are prepared to act quickly. Determine all of your potential escape routes, rehearse your evacuation, and assess your pet’s reaction to a crisis.

Many animals can detect tension and danger, so it could be challenging to force your pet to safety. Make sure you are familiar with where your pet prefers to relax, hide, and sleep. To help your pet learn to associate their crate or carrier with a safe, enjoyable area, practice putting them inside on a regular basis while rewarding them with their preferred treat or toy.

When you bring out their cage during an emergency evacuation, there will be less risk that they will flee. To make them accessible in the event of a house fire, place extra leashes close to evacuation points. Make sure your house evacuation plan also contains:

Choose one or two family members to gather your pets in the event of a house fire. This will guarantee a prompt response and aid in reducing confusion in an emergency.
Establish a secure outdoor gathering space for the entire family to ensure the safety of each individual and each pet.
Options for pet-friendly boarding – If you can’t get back home right away after a house fire, make sure your pet has a secure place to stay. Make a list of pet-friendly shelters, motels, and boarding facilities close to your home since many hotels do not allow pets.

Be prepared financially for your pet’s urgent veterinary care.

Animals caught up in home fires are vulnerable to burns and damage from smoke inhalation. Whether or whether they are displaying evident symptoms, bring your pet in for a checkup after being around fire or smoke. To obtain treatments like oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, and painkillers, your pet might need to be admitted to the hospital.

A high veterinary charge may result from emergency care after a house fire. However, having pet insurance, such as MGS Insurance will guarantee you have the funds to pay for your pet’s urgent care.
Your veterinary practice won’t need to submit paperwork or wait for reimbursements because MGS Insurance can pay them directly.

Getting Ready for the Worst.

When you leave the house, keep pets close to the entrance. If there is a fire at your house while you are away, you’ll want to make sure that your pet is immediately located.

Keep your pets as close to the front of the house as you can when you leave them unattended at home.

Using baby gates, dogs can be easily contained.
Because of their ability to jump, cats are more challenging to contain. Close all of the bedroom doors and move your pets as close as you can to the front of the house.
Additionally, store collars and leashes on a rack close to the front door in case you need to quickly remove your pets from the house. Additionally, this will provide firemen with information on the presence of pets in the house as well as a means of removing them securely in the event of a fire.

A pet emergency kit and become familiar with basic pet CPR and first aid.

Create a pet emergency kit to ensure that you are always ready for an evacuation that necessitates spending a lot of time away from home. To guarantee that all materials stay clean and dry, buy watertight bins or crates, and incorporate the following into your kit:

An extra collar, harness, and leash
A minimum of five days’ worth of food, water, and medication for every creature in the home.
Plates for food and water
Elimination tools include trash bags, litter, and paper boxes
A duplicate of your pet’s vaccination records and any relevant medical background
The microchip number and registration details for your pet
Veterinary insurance company name, phone number, and policy number
A list of the drugs your pet is taking, together with dosage information
Name, address, and phone number of your family veterinarian.
A recent photo of you and your pet that can be used to help establish ownership if your pet escapes accidently during a fire evacuation

Know the likely hiding places for your pet.

Your pet will likely be terrified in the event of a fire. This is especially true if a siren for a fire is sounding. Make sure you are aware of potential hiding places in the house, such as behind a couch or in a certain closet.

Unfortunately, YOU still need to flee—and quickly—if you can’t find them right away. Leave the door open so your pets can follow you once you step outside. Tell firemen that pets are still inside and want their assistance in locating them.

Conclusion

These suggestions can’t stop emergencies from happening, but they can help you protect your dogs in the event that anything terrible happens. Keep these suggestions in mind, and never forget that the best protection for your dogs is always being prepared.