"This is unbelievable"... Cat Turns On Electric Stove Causing Fire

Fire Incidents Involving Pets Frequent in a Multi-Family House in Daejeon
Over 100 Cases in One Year
Fire Agency Urges "Unplug Power Cords When Going Out"

A fire broke out in a multi-family house in Daejeon, believed to have been caused by a cat turning on an electric stove.

According to the Daejeon Fire Headquarters on the 14th, Yonhap News reported that a fire occurred at around 8:20 p.m. the previous day in a multi-family house in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu.

The resident was out, so there were no casualties.

This photo is not directly related to the article content. [Image source=Pixabay]

The fire burned 8㎡ inside, including around the electric stove, causing property damage estimated at 1.6 million won (according to the fire station), and was extinguished within 16 minutes.

A resident of the multi-family house said, "I heard the sound of a single-alarm smoke detector, came out, smelled something burning from the house next door, and saw smoke seeping through the door gap, so I called 119."

The police and fire authorities are investigating the detailed cause of the fire, believing it highly likely that the cat, left alone inside the house, pressed the power switch of the electric stove, causing the fire.

Increasing Pet-Related Fires... Over 100 Cases Annually

Interior of a large house on fire in Daejeon [Photo by Daejeon Fire Headquarters]

People who have pets such as cats should be cautious about the possibility of fire when leaving their homes.

Fires can occur when owners leave flammable items like tissues or dishcloths on the electric stove and go out or fall asleep, and pets accidentally turn on the stove or knock over candles.

The power button of electric stoves can be easily activated by cats or dogs walking around and pressing it with their paws.

The number of households using electric stoves such as induction and highlight cooktops is steadily increasing, and it is analyzed that highlight cooktops have a higher risk of fire than induction cooktops, which use electromagnetic induction.

According to statistics from the Seoul Fire & Disaster Headquarters, there were 107 fires caused by cats turning on electric stoves from 2019 to November 2021. Half of these occurred when the owners were not at home.

According to the National Fire Agency, there were a total of 338 fires caused by pets nationwide from 2019 to 2021, resulting in 7 injuries and property damage worth 1.5 billion won.

The number of fire incidents was around 100, with 108 cases in 2019 and 103 in 2020, but it sharply increased to 127 cases last year.

The National Fire Agency urged that careful management by pet owners is essential to prevent pet-related fires.

It is important to unplug devices that can cause fires, such as electric stoves, when going out or sleeping. Also, flammable items should not be placed near electric stoves or similar appliances.