Group of Dogs

Pet Fire Safety 

Pets give us comfort, friendship, and unconditional love.  Our connection to them can be among the strongest relationships in our lives.  But pets can cause fires.  We need to be careful with pets in the home. 

Safety Tips

  • Pets are curious.  They may bump into, turn on, or knock over cooking equipment.  Keep pets away from stoves and countertops. 
  • Keep pets away from candles, lamps, and space heaters.
  • Always use a metal or heat-tempered glass screen on a fireplace and keep it in place.
  • Keep pets away from a chimney's outside vents.  Have a "pet-free zone" of at least 3 feet (1 meter) away from the fireplace.  Glass doors and screens can stay dangerously hot for several hours after the fire goes out.
  • Consider battery-operated, flame less candles.  They can look and smell like real candles.
  • Some pets are chewers.  Watch pets to make sure they don't chew through electrical cords.  Have any problem checked by a professional. 
  • Never go back inside for pets in a fire.  Tell firefighters if your pet is trapped. 

Pets and Wildfire

Make sure pets are included in your family's wildfire evacuation plan.  Build an evacuation kit for each pet in your household.  Ensure each kit is a size and weight that can be quickly and easily loaded into a vehicle when packing to evacuate. 

Fact

Pets and wild animals have a part in starting about 700 home fires per year.  Roughly three-quarters of these fires were started by cooking equipment, fireplaces or chimneys, lighting, or candles. 

July 15 is National Pet Fire Safety Day!  Help protect your furry family.