A dog in Tulsa, Oklahoma, caused a house fire after chewing on a lithium-ion battery, according to fire officials.
The Tulsa Fire Department recently released dramatic footage of the May incident, showing the portable cellphone battery sparking and bursting into flames, sending two dogs and a cat running for safety.
Although the home sustained significant damage, the pets escaped through a dog door and were unharmed, said Andy Little, a spokesperson for the fire department.
“The situation could have been much worse if there was no means of escape or if the family had been asleep at the time,” Little added.
Little highlighted that lithium-ion battery fires are a “critical issue affecting fire departments across the United States.”
These batteries, commonly used to charge cellphones, are “known for storing a significant amount of energy in a compact space,” Little said.
“When this energy is released uncontrollably, it can generate heat, produce flammable and toxic gases, and even cause explosions,” he explained.
Experts note that extreme heat exposure, physical damage, overcharging, and using incompatible charging equipment can lead to these devices catching fire.
Little urged the public to handle lithium-ion batteries with care, including keeping them out of reach of children and pets.
For disposal, he recommended taking the batteries to designated recycling centers or hazardous waste collection points, warning against simply throwing them in the trash, which could damage the batteries and potentially cause fires.
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“Let us work together to prevent lithium-ion battery-related fires and keep our homes and communities safe,” Little said.
