Today is Pet Fire Safety Day, and the purpose is to bring prevention awareness to pet owners. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), ADT Security Services,  and the American Kennel Club have partnered together to bring a fire safety awareness to all pet owners. According to the NVFC, there is “an estimated 500,000 pets affected by home fires each year,” and “nearly 1,000 house fires each year are accidentally started by the homeowners’ pets,” according to the AKC and the NVFC. Here is a list of tips courtesy of NVFC to keep our pets from starting house 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 open 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 – a stove or cook top is the number o