July 15, 2015
Practice Fire Safety with Your Pet

A few basic steps can help secure a fire emergency plan that includes four-legged family members. Consider these simple tips:
- Familiarize yourself with your pet’s favourite hiding places in the house; this might be where he will run to during an emergency.
- Keep a leash or carrier close to the entrance so that you can easily find and use this when removing your pet from the house during an emergency.
- Ensure your pet’s ID tag and microchip are up to date in case he becomes frightened by the fire or fire trucks and runs away.
- Keep an up-to-date In Case of Emergency sticker that lists the number and kinds of pets living in your house – keep this by your entrance to alert emergency-response officers of the furry family members who may need rescuing. (These are available at the OHS.)
- Assign a family member to be responsible for each pet during an emergency.
- Practice your fire emergency plan with your pet! Go through the steps of where you will find your pet, secure him on a leash or in a carrier, and practice exiting the house safely with him.
- Think ahead: In the case of a fire, where will your family go? Will your pet be able to go with you, or will you need to arrange a safe place for him to stay?
- Pet-proof your house – ensure your pet cannot access open flames or anything that could start a fire.
- Supervise your pet – keep his curious nature out of the kitchen or other places where there are fire risks. When you’re away from home, make sure your pet is in a safe, secure place in the house.
July 15 is National Pet Fire Safety Day. Remember: having a simple plan in place could save your pet’s life.
Andrea Tatarski,
Coordinator: Humane Education
Coordinator: Humane Education