Keeping Your Pets Safe: Thursday is National Pet Fire Safety Day

Each year, 500,000 pets are affected nationally by house fires, and 1,000 fires are started by pets.

Thursday is National Pet Fire Safety Day. It's an effort to prevent pets from starting fires and is intended to make people aware of how to keep them safe in case of emergency.

Borough Fire Chief Peter Glogolich said it's especially important to keep an eye on pets during the holiday season, when "they have a tendency to knock the candles over if they're not careful."

Animals in crates sometimes have trouble getting out during a fire as well, he said.

National Pet Safety Day is sponsored by the National Volunteer Fire Council, who joins with ADT Security Services and the American Kennel Club in promoting the day. They provide these tips on preventing a pet from starting a fire:

• Extinguish open flames.
• Remove stove knobs—A stove or cook top is the number one piece of equipment involved in your pet starting a fire.
• Invest in flameless candles.
• Beware of water bowls on wooden decks—Do not leave a glass water bowl for your pet outside on a wooden deck. The sun's rays when filtered through the glass and water can actually heat up and ignite the wooden deck beneath it. Choose stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead.
• Pet proof the home.

The group also provides these tips in keeping your pet safe if there is a fire:

• Keep pets near entrances when away from home—When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them. 
• Secure young pets—Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home.
• Practice escape routes with pets.

The American Red Cross offers pet first aid courses, including the Millburn-Short Hills chapter. The Red Cross also offers a pet and disaster safety checklist (available here in pdf form). Families with pets should include items for their pets in the emergency kit.

The Red Cross does not allow pets in its shelters because of health and safety concerns. Families should know what hotels and motels in the area allow pets if they are evacuated or need to leave their home. Also, the Red Cross suggests compiling a list of friends, relatives and facilities like a veterinarian can accept and care for a pet in an emergency.