The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department highlighted pet fire safety during the National Night Out event Tuesday in Alpine, introducing a new device designed to help save animals during fires.
The device, called the Rescue Retriever Pet Smoke Detector, was created by firefighters to alert both homeowners and first responders to a pet’s location during a fire. The goal is to give emergency crews critical seconds to rescue pets that may be trapped or hidden inside homes.
“Events like this educate the public on doing their part to save their pets, but also to help firefighters help save their pets and educate the public on the understanding of what it looks like inside of a home,” said Michelle Manson, a local contact for Rescue Retriever.
The event, held in a region with a high risk of wildfires, provided demonstrations and information on how residents can protect their pets in fire emergencies. Manson called the technology “groundbreaking,” especially for pet owners in fire-prone areas.
“We live in California and homes are older and in some parts of the city we see the ongoing fire risk so I think this is actually going to be groundbreaking,” Manson said. “For pet lovers, pet owners, animal lovers, I think it’s going to become a staple in homes with animals, not just dogs, but cats, reptiles, birds.”
Manson also noted that Rescue Retriever is working to make the device more accessible through community outreach and grant partnerships.
“Rescue Retriever is trying to work with partnering with grants to do these donations, where they walk around through neighborhoods, and begin to hand out these Rescue Retrievers for families that have,” she said.
The event marked the first time the device was featured at a National Night Out, drawing attention to a safety concern often overlooked during emergencies.