Arizona Burn Foundation Expands Smoke Alarm Program to Protect Pets in House Fires

ABF is thrilled to bring innovative Rescue Retriever strobe-based alarms to pet owners in an effort to help firefighters locate pets while keeping families out of harm’s way.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(PHOENIX, AZ – May 13. 2026) – The Arizona Burn Foundation (ABF) is expanding its community smoke alarm walk program to better protect entire households—including pets—through a new partnership with Rescue Retriever, an innovative, pet-focused smoke alarm designed to help firefighters locate animals trapped during house fires.

Founded by Fire Captain Ryan Tussing and his brother, Rusty Tussing, Rescue Retriever is a paw-shaped smoke alarm that activates a silent strobe light when smoke is detected, guiding firefighters to pets once they have entered a home. The device is designed to be placed where pets are most likely to sleep or hide, such as near crates, under beds, or in favorite resting areas.

“As firefighters, we’ve all seen people risk their lives running back into burning homes for their pets after evacuating their family and when they are not home it is a far greater challenge to find and rescue pets,” said Ryan Tussing, co-founder of Rescue Retriever. “We wanted to create a tool that gives first responders a better chance to save pets—and give families peace of mind—without anyone putting themselves in additional danger.”

Unlike traditional smoke alarms, Rescue Retriever does not emit sound. Instead, its visual strobe can be seen through smoke, and each unit includes an exterior window or door decal alerting firefighters that pets may be inside.

The expansion is an extension of the Arizona Burn Foundation’s long-standing commitment to fire prevention and education. Through its community smoke alarm program—operated in partnership with the American Red Cross and fire departments across Arizona—ABF has been installing no-cost smoke alarms in vulnerable communities since 2006. In 2023, the program expanded to include specialized smoke alarms for Deaf and Hard of Hearing residents, underscoring the Foundation’s focus on inclusive, life-saving solutions.

“Protecting people has always been at the heart of our mission, and for many families, pets are part of that family,” said Bridget Doherty, Interim CEO of the Arizona Burn Foundation. “Incorporating pet-focused safety tools into our smoke alarm program is a natural next step as we continue to look at fire safety through the lens of the whole household.”

The partnership is supported in part by a grant from PetSmart, which is helping the Arizona Burn Foundation purchase Rescue Retriever alarms for use during community smoke alarm walks. The company recognized the program’s life-saving potential and its impact on pet-loving communities.

“At PetSmart, we believe pets are family and keeping them safe is part of keeping families safe,” said Joanne Dwyer, vice president of communications and corporate social responsibility at PetSmart. “We’re proud to support the Arizona Burn Foundation and Rescue Retriever in their work to protect pets while also helping safeguard families and first responder, advancing pet safety and strengthening the communities we serve.”

The partnership will officially launch at a targeted community smoke alarm walk on April 23, where alarms will be installed alongside traditional smoke detectors. Currently, Sedona is the first community in Arizona to actively pilot the Rescue Retriever alarms through local implementation.

As part of the initiative, pet owners can purchase Rescue Retriever pet alarms using the Arizona Burn Foundation’s discount code ABF to receive 15% off their purchase, with a portion of proceeds supporting burn survivors and their families. Rescue Retriever alarms are available through online retailers including Walmart, Amazon, and Scheels.

To learn more about ABF’s Community Smoke Alarm Walk program, click here.

Media Contact:

Bretta Nelson
Director of Marketing
bretta.nelson@azburn.org
928.500.3809