According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, around 40,000 pets in the U.S. die in residential fires each year, mostly due to smoke inhalation, and 500,000 pets are affected overall. In some instances, pets can be the cause of those fires. Here’s how often pets cause house fires and what you can do to ensure their safety in the event of an emergency. How often do pets cause house fires?The National Fire Protection Association estimates there are 790 house fires started by animals each year. However, this statistic includes animals other than pets. That includes chipmunks and squir…