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A cat started an accidental house fire in Texas after jumping onto the stove and turning on the appliance in the processIn home surveillance footage, the blaze could be seen spreading from the stovetop to other appliances and, eventually, the kitchen door and the ceiling”Even when a stove or cooktop is not actively in use, residual heat or accidental activation can quickly ignite nearby combustible items,” said the Garland Fire Department
A cat accidentally started a terrifying kitchen fire in a Texas home.
On Wednesday, Jan. 14, the Garland Fire Department responded to reports of a fire at a home in Dallas County, according to local outlets WFAA, The Dallas Morning News and Fox News.
After rushing to the scene and extinguishing the blaze, investigators found home surveillance videos that showed exactly how the fire started. In footage obtained by CBS News, a cat living at the affected home jumps onto the stovetop and hits the knob, accidentally turning on the appliance.
“10 or 15 seconds after the cat gets up there, all the sudden a fire starts,” Jim Dugger with the Garland Fire Department told KRLD News. “The cat jumps down and runs off.”
Since various items were sprawled out on the stovetop, what began as a small blaze soon spread to other appliances and, eventually, to the kitchen door and the ceiling.
”The problem is, all the combustibles on the stove caught on fire, ended up catching the kitchen on fire,” Dugger continued.
While the fire caused significant damage to the kitchen, the fire department confirmed there was no damage to the rest of the home.
Even so, the Garland Fire Department used the opportunity to remind residents to prioritize kitchen fire safety by keeping combustible items — including paper towels, dish towels, food packaging, and plastic containers — away from stovetops and, if necessary, investing in 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,” the fire department wrote in a statement, per Fox News. “A few seconds of prevention can stop a fire from starting.”
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Fire officials also recommend always turning off cooking appliances when not in use, never leaving cooking food unattended, maintaining a clutter-free area around all heat sources and investing in stove knob covers to prevent accidental activation — especially in households with children or pets.