In an unusual incident in Dallas County, Texas, a cat inadvertently started a kitchen fire by turning on a stove, leading to extensive damage, according to local authorities.
The Garland Fire Department swiftly responded to the fire on Wednesday, successfully extinguishing the flames, as noted in their official report.
Upon investigation, officials reviewed home surveillance footage that revealed the cat jumping onto the stove. In doing so, the feline inadvertently turned on a burner, which set off the fire.
In the captured video, the cat is seen quickly leaping off the stove after igniting the burner, which in turn set nearby items ablaze.
Post-fire images of the kitchen illustrated the extent of the damage, showing that the flames had spread to other appliances, the kitchen door, and even reached the ceiling before the firefighters managed to contain it.
A picture of the kitchen after the fire showed the fire had spread to other appliances, the kitchen door and the ceiling before firefighters were able to put it out.
In the video, the cat quickly jumps off the stove after turning on a burner, which ignited the items sitting on top. (Garland Fire Department)
There was no damage to the rest of the home.
The department reminded residents to keep combustible items like paper towels or plastic containers off stovetops, to always turn off burners and ovens, to never leave cooking unattended and to keep the area clutter-free.
A picture of the kitchen after the fire showed it had spread to other appliances, the kitchen door and the ceiling before firefighters were able to put it out. (Garland Fire Department)
It also suggested using safety stove knob covers.
“Even when a stove or cooktop is not actively in use, residual heat or accidental activation can quickly ignite nearby combustible items. A few seconds of prevention can stop a fire from starting,” the department said in a release.
