A dog fire accident claimed the lives of three pets after a family dog accidentally switched on a toaster in a home in Belcamp, Maryland. The blaze broke out while the owners were away, causing extensive damage to the property.
The blaze occurred on 10 July in a home located on Foxglove Court in Harford County. Based on investigations, Bo, the family dog, jumped onto the kitchen counter and, by accident, turned on the toaster.
Fire soon started due to the burning of combustible items within the house. Footage taken by an indoor surveillance camera confirmed the Deputy State Fire Marshals’ belief that the fire was accidental.
About 30 firefighters came and took the situation under control in around 20 minutes.
The neighbours were able to save both Bo and another dog named Addie. The third dog, named Dakota, and the two cats were unable to make it through.
Damage was estimated to be $150,000 to the structure and $50,000 to the contents.
The incident is a good lesson for pet owners about being more careful when they leave their pets alone at home.
It is stated by NFPA that pets inadvertently cause about 1,000 home fires annually in the United States. Approximately 500,000 pets are impacted by home fires annually due to their involvement with cooking appliances, candles, and electrical devices.
Even though two dogs were saved due to the prompt action of the neighbourhood people as well as the firefighters, the death of three of their cherished pets has made them extremely sorrowful. The accident further demonstrates the need for proper pet proofing as well as fire safety measures.
References Link: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/security-camera-captures-dog-accidentally-sparking-house-fire-that-killed-three-pets-11777581