Pet fire safety

Put pets in the escape plan

• Include every pet in the household fire-escape plan.
• Know where each pet tends to hide.
• Keep carriers, leashes, harnesses, towels, and handling supplies accessible near a safe exit.
• Practice calmly gathering and evacuating pets.
• Assign one person to each pet when possible, and identify a backup person.

Reduce fire hazards at home

• Keep pets away from candles, stoves, fireplaces, grills, space heaters, and electrical cords.
• Use working smoke alarms and test them regularly.
• Follow local fire-safety guidance and any equipment manufacturer instructions.

Pet rescue notices

A rescue notice is helpful information for responders. It does not guarantee rescue and does not replace evacuation planning.

• Consider a visible notice showing the number and types of pets in the home.
• Keep the notice current as pets are added or leave the household.
• Mark or remove the notice after all pets have evacuated so responders do not search an empty home unnecessarily.

During a fire

• Never re-enter a burning or unsafe building to retrieve a pet.
• Tell firefighters or emergency responders which pets may still be inside and where they commonly hide.
• Follow all instructions from responders.

After a fire

• Keep pets away from debris, ash, damaged wiring, chemicals, and unsafe structures.
• Keep pets leashed or contained until the property has been checked.
• Seek veterinary help promptly for possible smoke inhalation, burns, breathing difficulty, collapse, or other concerning symptoms.