Fire can be dangerous and devastating. July 15th may be National Pet Fire Safety Day, but pet fire safety is important every day of the year. Here are some pet fire safety tips and a few ways to keep your dogs safe:

1. Plan Ahead For Emergency Response

One of the best ways to be prepared for emergencies is to plan ahead. Not only does this help you identify areas where you can take action to reduce the risk, but it also means you can have emergency supplies ready, react faster, and already have a plan in place for what to do next.

Planning ahead also allows you to figure out pet disaster preparedness. You can take the time to figure out what to do with your dog during an emergency to keep them safe and you can start doing some training to help prepare your dog for emergencies should something occur.

2. Update Your Emergency Kit

Part of an emergency plan is having an emergency kit ready. This should contain first aid items for you, including a dog first aid kit, copies of important documents, supplies of food and water, and anything else you would need in an emergency. Keep it in an easy-to-grab bag or container and put it in a place that is secure and also easy to grab if you have to make a hasty escape.

3. Stay Calm and Keep Your Dog Calm

In the event of an emergency, it’s important to resist the urge to panic and to stay calm and grounded. Not only does this help you focus and get out of danger, but it can also help your dog stay calmer as well.

The last thing you want to happen in an emergency is for your dog to run away from you or run into danger instead of away from it. Once you’re away from the fire and in a safe place, continue to remain as calm as you can, comfort your dog, and make sure you both drink some water while you take a breather and wait for what comes next.

4. Pet-Proof Your Home

There are things you can do to puppy-proof your home that can also help with pet fire safety. Look over your home and take stock of where electrical outlets and cords are and where flammable items are.

Make sure any electrical cords and flammable items are secure and out of your dog’s reach. For electrical outlets that are lower and in areas where your dog spends a lot of time, especially of that time is unsupervised, you can use outlet covers.

Also, make sure you include pet fire safety in your holiday plans. If you like to decorate for Christmas and go all out on the tree, with lights, etc., make sure you pet-proof your Christmas tree. Additionally, make sure you’re taking a dog-friendly approach with your holiday decorations and take the extra step to secure and protect lights and electric cords for anything you’re putting up.

5. Avoid Open Flames

Open flames increase the risk of fire and can be dangerous around pets. Pets can easily knock over candles and heaters and unintentionally start fires. They can also wander too close and burn themselves.

Flameless candles are good substitutes. Enclosed fireplaces can help reduce the risk of open flames. If you have an open fireplace, you can invest in sturdy screens to add extra layers of protection and keep your pets from getting too close. You can also put covers over stove knobs to avoid any accidental ignition.

6. Take Extra Precautions Around Outdoor Fires

Provided the weather is right for them and conditions are not too dry, cookouts, bonfires, and campfires can be a lot of fun. However, they do create some dangers for you and your dog. In addition to having plenty of water nearby as well as fire extinguishers, it’s important to take extra precautions to reduce risk and maintain a safe environment for you and your dog.

If your dog is afraid of fires, keep them inside and away from it. Even if your dog is not afraid, it’s a good idea to keep them leashed unless you know with certainty that they will stay away from the fire and will listen if you call them away from it. This is a summer BBQ safety tip for dog owners that is useful for any pet fire safety situation.

7. Be Careful With Space Heaters

Space heaters are useful, but they can increase the risk of fire and it’s important to be careful with them. Make sure the area around space heaters is clear and that they are not allowed to run too hot or too long.

Some space heaters have built-in safety features like timed or automatic shut-offs. If yours doesn’t, you want to make sure you are keeping an eye on it and your pets. If they are cold, dogs can sometimes get too close to space heaters and burn themselves or overheat.

Covers are available for baseboard heaters to prevent access to the heating elements. Using a screen or protective gate around space heaters can help keep pets or children from getting too close to them. These are good pet fire safety tips and are also some winter safety tips for dogs.

8. Make Sure Your Dog Can Be Identified

Collars with up-to-date ID tags, making sure your dog is microchipped, and more can all help make sure your dog can be identified. Not only are these ways to prevent your dog from getting lost, but they are essential in an emergency. Should your dog run away or get lost, this information can make it easy to identify them, get in contact with you, and get your dog back to you faster.

9. Keep Them Close to Entrances When You’re Not Home

Another consideration for pet fire safety is where your pets are when you’re not home. If your dog is crated or contained to an area of the home when you’re not home, make sure they are near an entrance.

In the case of an emergency, this can make it easier and faster for firefighters to find them and get them out. You can also add a pet alert sticker or window cling near your front door to notify emergency responders about what pets there are and how many are inside.

These are just a few ways to keep your dogs safe. Implementing these tips for pet fire safety can help reduce the risk of fire, keep you and your dog safe, and make sure you are both prepared in the event of an emergency.