Tips on how to prevent your pets from starting fires at your home

Did you know your pet could start a fire in your home? 

The Prince William County Police Department today, on National Pet Fire Safety Day, offers some tips on how to prevent your pet from burning down your home. 

From Prince William police: 

Prevent your pet from starting fires

— Extinguish open flames – Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an ope flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home.

— Remove stove knobs – Be sure to remove stove knobs or protect them with covers before leaving the house. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a stove or cook top is the number one piece of equipment involved in your pet starting a fire.

— Invest in flameless candles – These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open flame, and take the danger out of your pet knocking over a candle. Cats are notorious for starting fires when their tails turn over lit candles.

— Beware of water bowls on wooden decks – Do not leave a glass water bowl for your pet outsideon 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.

Keep your pets safe

— Keep Pets Near Entrances When Away From Home – Keep collars on pets and leashes at the ready in case first responders need to rescue your pet. 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

— Secure Young Pets – Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home such as in crates or behind baby gates in secure areas.

— Since Pets Left Alone Can’t Escape a Burning Home – Consider using monitored smoke detectors which are connected to a monitoring center so emergency responders can be contacted when you’re not home. These systems provide an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms.

— Affix a Pet Alert Window Decal – Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the decal to a front window. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets.

— Make sure to update the number of pets listed.