Watch: Pet Dog Sets House On Fire By Chewing On Lithium-Ion Battery In US

A seemingly innocent playtime for a pet dog took a tragic turn when it inadvertently chewed on a portable lithium-ion battery, igniting a severe house fire in Oklahoma, US. The Tulsa Fire Department (TFD) recently brought this alarming incident to light in a public safety alert, accompanied by footage of the incident to drive home the importance of keeping lithium-ion batteries out of reach of pets and children.

The video, captured in May by an indoor camera, showed two dogs and a cat in the living room. One of the dogs is seen chewing on a lithium-ion battery pack until it explodes and the house catches fire. Thanks to the prompt action by the fire department, the blaze was quickly extinguished. While the home suffered significant damage, all pets managed to escape the home unharmed through a dog door.

According to Tulsa Fire Department public information officer Andy Little, the situation could have been far more severe if “there had been no means of escape or if the family was asleep at the time."

Watch the video here:

Officer Little in the video explained the importance of understanding the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries. He noted that these batteries are used for charging mobile devices because they store a “significant amount of energy in a compact space."

“Many individuals keep these batteries within their homes for convenience, unaware of the potential dangers they pose," he added.

He further urged the public to follow the manufacturer guidelines when using lithium-ion batteries. “It is crucial that you adhere to manufacturer guidelines when using lithium-ion batteries, only using approved chargers and storing them out of reach of children and pets. Furthermore, it is imperative to dispose off lithium-ion batteries properly. They should never be tossed in household garbage or recycling bins as they can cause fire during transportation or at disposal facilities. Instead take these batteries to designated recycling centres or household hazardous waste collection points," Little said in the video.

The incident sparked a wave of reactions from the viewers on the internet. One user expressed relief, stating, “So happy the pets are ok!"

Another commenter advised, “Don’t leave pets home unattended!"

Someone else shared, “I’m glad the animals were able to escape unharmed. Lithium batteries have some issues that need fixing!"

Meanwhile, another user shared their own experience, writing, “Literally just had to take all the knobs off of my stove because my cat tried to burn my house down two days ago. Like I don’t even know how this guy even turned them."

Since being posted, the video has amassed over 9 million views.