Dog Accidentally Starts Fire by Chewing Lithium-Ion Battery

A recent incident in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, took a surprising turn when a fire chief’s dog, Colton, caused a small house fire by chewing on a lithium-ion battery. The event was captured on video and shared by the Chapel Hill Fire Department last Monday.

Fire Chief David Sasser’s dog, Colton, was identified as the culprit in this strange situation. While the battery was unplugged and fully charged—thus not under any recall—the authorities noted it was not stored safely.

“Colton is a good kid, but he counter-surfed while no one was around and grabbed a device with a lithium-ion battery,” the department remarked in a Facebook update.

Colton’s Misadventure

According to fire officials, as soon as Colton chewed on the battery, it damaged its protective casing, which ultimately ignited the fire. Thankfully, Colton only experienced minor smoke exposure, and the damage was limited to a rug in the house.

In the wake of the incident, the fire department emphasized how crucial it is to handle lithium-ion batteries properly. “A lot of energy is stored in small spaces,” they pointed out, warning that overcharging or damaging these batteries can lead to overheating or even explosions.

As for Colton, he’s now kept safe in his crate when unsupervised, ensuring such a cheeky escapade doesn’t happen again.