Ways to Keep Your Pets Safe After a Fire

5/28/2020 (Permalink)

No homeowner wants to go through a home fire. While you can likely replace or repair damaged belongings, you can’t bring pets back to life. When you are creating an evacuation plan for your family, all too often pets are not included. Here are four ways to protect your pets during a fire emergency.

1. Develop a Pet-Evacuation Plan

Like most pet owners, you consider your cats and dogs to be part of the family. When making an emergency evacuation plan you need to include your pets. First, find out where your pets prefer to hide. Often, pets seek refuge in these places during emergency situations. Also, if you can do so safely, try to carry pets with you when you evacuate. Don’t forget to collar and leash them, though, as you may be away from the safety of indoor space for hours.

2. Keep Pet Records in an Accessible Place

Fires can be unbelievably destructive. While you may primarily worry about vital and financial documents, you can’t forget about pet records. When you are planning for a fire emergency, store veterinary and other information in a fire-safe box. Then, locate the box in a place where you or a fire restoration specialist can easily find it.

3. Locate a Safe Spot

As you may know, not all emergency shelters welcome pets. Therefore, your pet preparation must identify a safe spot where your furry friends can stay temporarily after a fire. If your strategy includes staying with family members or friends, confirm that no one has pet allergies.

4. Prevent Pets from Starting Fires

Pets are often responsible for starting fires. While you must have a plan for keeping your pets safe during a fire, you can decrease your chances of having a home fire by keeping open flames away from wagging tails. Additionally, hide wires to discourage your pets from chewing through them.

Ensuring pet safety during a fire requires a bit of preparation. With some effort, though, you can be certain your pets will survive a fire emergency. As always, SERVPRO of South Chesterfield/Wildwood is here to help!