Keep your pets safe from fires
“Animals are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace,” she said.
Every pet owner’s worst nightmare would be to lose their pet in a home fire.
National marketing and communications manager of Fidelity ADT Charnel Hattingh said nobody thinks it could happen to them, but the reality is that year-round they attend to house fires, many of which threaten the lives of not only the residents but their pets too.
She added that some fires are, in fact, caused by pets, especially when they are left alone in a property.
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Charnel advised pet owners with the following to ensure that their pets are kept safe:
• Pet owners need to ensure their pets are not left around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving the house.
• Be sure to remove stove knobs or protect them with covers before leaving the house.
• In the event of a fire, discuss who in the home is responsible for helping a pet escape and carry out some practice escape drills.
• Develop a plan for your pet by determining which family member will be responsible for each pet, know where your pets hide as this may be the first place they go if there is a fire.
• Ask someone in your family or a friend in advance if they would be willing to keep your pets for you in case of an emergency.
• Practice your escape plan. This will help identify issues that are not clear or have not been well planned yet.
• Keep collars on pets and leashes at the ready in case firefighters need to rescue your pet, and when leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.
“Our pets are part of the family and need to be taken care of. It only takes some simple planning to include your pets into your home evacuation plans and to minimise the fire hazards in your home,” Charnel concluded.
