Dog started house fire by chewing on lithium battery
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A family in North Carolina is safe after an unusual fire sparked when their dog chewed through a battery, igniting flames inside their home, according to local news reports.
🔥 The Incident
- Date: October 14, 2025
- Location: Chapel Hill, Orange County, North Carolina
- Cause: Fire officials say the family’s dog chewed through a lithium-ion battery, which then overheated and caught fire.
- Response: Chapel Hill firefighters quickly responded to the scene and contained the blaze before it spread further through the home.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the family was able to evacuate safely. The dog also survived the incident.
Video of the incident: https://www.wral.com/news/local/dog-lithium-ion-battery-fire-home-october-2025/
🐕 Pets and Fire Hazards
While it may sound unusual, pets are often linked to accidental home fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), pets are responsible for nearly 1,000 house fires annually in the U.S. Common causes include:
- Knocking over candles or lamps
- Chewing on electrical cords or batteries
- Accidentally turning on stovetops
Lithium-ion batteries, in particular, pose a serious fire risk when punctured or damaged. Once compromised, they can enter thermal runaway, releasing heat, toxic gases, and flames.
🧯 Safety Lessons
This incident highlights the importance of battery safety in the home:
- Store batteries securely out of reach of pets and children.
- Dispose of damaged or swollen batteries at proper recycling facilities.
- Use fire-resistant storage containers for spare lithium-ion batteries.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and test them monthly.
📺 Coverage
CBS17 provided both a written report and video coverage of the Chapel Hill fire, noting that firefighters credited quick response and working smoke alarms for preventing a tragedy.
In short: A dog’s curiosity with a lithium-ion battery nearly turned disastrous, but thanks to fast-acting firefighters, the Chapel Hill family escaped unharmed. The case serves as a reminder of the hidden dangers of everyday household items when pets are involved.
Sources:
CBS17 News: Dog chews through battery, starts fire inside Chapel Hill home
https://www.wral.com/news/local/dog-lithium-ion-battery-fire-home-october-2025/
https://wsvn.com/news/us-world/dog-sparks-house-fire-from-chewing-on-lithium-ion-battery-device/
Further reading:
https://rockroadvets.com/fire-safety-and-your-pets/
https://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-health/pet-safety/pet-fire-safety-infographic/