Recently, a pet dog in Tulsa, Oklahoma, accidentally started a house fire after chewing on a lithium-ion battery. The incident was captured on camera, showing two dogs and a cat in the living room of the house. One of the canines began chewing on the battery, which exploded shortly after, causing the home to catch fire.

Fortunately, the Tulsa Fire Department quickly extinguished the fire, and the occupants of the house were not harmed. Furthermore, the pets were able to safely escape the burning structure through a dog door. The incident is a shocking reminder of how dangerous battery fires can easily become when improperly stored or tampered with.

The Tulsa Fire Department released a Facebook statement on the recent battery fire, stressing the importance of properly storing the batteries. “BE CAREFUL you may have items in your home that can lead to a disaster if not properly handled! We responded to a house fire in May that was caused by a damaged lithium-ion battery. While the home was significantly damaged, their two dogs and cat escaped the home uninjured through a dog door,” the post read.

Tulsa Fire Department public information officer Andy Little said in a video, “Today, I want to bring to your attention a critical issue that has been affecting fire departments across the United States, fires caused by lithium ion batteries. Lithium ion batteries are known for storing a significant amount of energy in a compact space. However, when this energy is released uncontrollably. It can generate heat, produce flammable and toxic gasses and even lead to explosions.

Little continued, “These incidents can occur due to various reasons, such as exposure to extreme heat, physical damage to the battery overcharging, or even using incompatible charging equipment. Just recently, a home fire in the Tulsa area was sparked by a pet chew of a portable lithium ion battery intended for charging cell phones. Many individuals keep these batteries within their homes for convenience, unaware of the potential dangers they pose. I urge you to watch the video footage from This fire to understand the severity of the situation.”

The officer described how lucky the people and pets in the situation were.  “Fortunately, the pets involved were able to escape unharmed through a dog door. However, the outcome could have been much worse if there had been no means of escape, or if the family was asleep at the time. 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,” he added.

Little concluded that it is extremely important for people to properly store and dispose of their batteries to prevent similar incidents from occurring.  “Furthermore, it is imperative to dispose of lithium ion batteries properly. They should never be tossed in household garbage or recycling bins, as they can cause fires during transportation or at disposal facilities. Instead, take these batteries to designated recycling centers or household hazardous waste collection points. Let us work together to prevent lithium ion battery related fires and keep our homes and communities safe,” he said.

Watch the incident below:

https://www.facebook.com/TulsaFireDept/videos/1018753546612123

Note:  The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.