A video of a dog accidentally igniting a house fire by chewing on a lithium-ion battery in Oklahoma, United States, has surfaced on social media.
The video, shared by social media user Collin Rugg on X, was first released by the Tulsa Fire Department last week.
The 36-second video, featuring footage from an indoor monitoring camera installed in the home’s living room, showed two dogs and a cat.
In the clip, one of the dogs begins chewing on a lithium-ion battery pack. Moments later, the battery explodes, causing a fire to break out in the house.
Take a look at the video here:
Thanks to the swift response of the Tulsa Fire Department, the fire was quickly extinguished. According to Fox News, all the pets managed to escape the burning home.
“The outcome could have been much worse if there had been no means of escape or if the family was asleep at the time,” Andy Little, public information officer for the Tulsa Fire Department told Fox News.
Little emphasised the hidden dangers of lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used for their ability to store a “significant amount of energy in a compact space.”
He warned that while these batteries are convenient for charging mobile devices, they pose serious risks if not handled properly.
“Many individuals keep these batteries within their homes for convenience, unaware of the potential dangers they pose,” Little said.
“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.”
The United States’ National Fire Protection Agency also advises that all users of lithium-ion batteries should stop charging their devices once the battery is fully charged to prevent mishaps.
