JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Pets give us comfort, friendship, and unconditional love. Our connection to them can be among the strongest relationships in our lives. But pets can cause fires. We need to be careful with pets in the home.
SAFETY TIPS
• Pets are curious. They may bump into, turn on, or knock over cooking equipment. Keep pets away from stoves and countertops.
• Keep pets away from candles, lamps, and space heaters.
• Always use a metal or heat-tempered glass screen on a fireplace and keep it in place.
• Keep pets away from a chimney’s outside vents. Have a “pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 meter) away from the fireplace. Glass doors and screens can stay dangerously hot for several hours after the fire goes out.
• Consider battery-operated, flameless candles. They can look and smell like real candles.
• Some pets are chewers. Watch pets to make sure they don’t chew through electrical cords. Have any problems checked by a professional.
• Have working smoke alarms on every level of the home. Test your smoke alarms at least once a month.
• If the smoke alarm sounds, get out, stay out, and call 9-1-1.
• Never go back inside for pets in a fire. Tell firefighters if your pet is trapped.
Pets and wild animals have a part in starting about 700 home fires per year. Roughly three quarters of these fires were started by cooking equipment, fireplaces or chimneys, lighting, or candles.
If you have any questions or concerns about pet fire safety please contact the JB-MDL Fire Prevention office at 754-5800.