The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters reported that last month, the first gas stove fire accident caused by a pet using a one-touch ignition method occurred in Korea, and urged households with pets to exercise special caution.
According to the Fire and Disaster Headquarters on the 20th, a gas stove fire broke out around 6 a.m. on the 6th of last month at a villa in Gimpo. The fire was extinguished by the dispatched fire brigade, and fortunately, there were no casualties. However, the fire investigation revealed that the gas stove involved was a one-touch ignition type, and the fire started when a cat kept at home jumped up to eat food on the sink, stepped on the stove ignition lever, slipped, and activated the ignition switch.
The commonly known gas stove ignition methods are piezoelectric or electronic ignition, where the ignition lever must be pressed and turned left or right and held for a few seconds to ignite the flame. In contrast, the one-touch ignition gas stove ignites immediately after pressing and turning the ignition lever left or right, even if the hand is released right away.
Lee Jong-in, head of the fire investigation team at Gimpo Fire Station, said, "Most people are aware of the risks of electric stoves or induction cookers, which have additional safety devices, making them relatively safe from fire. Since this is the first case involving the recently introduced one-touch ignition gas stove, the fire risk is not well known yet, so caution is necessary."
The Fire and Disaster Headquarters advised that when not using the gas stove, it is essential to close the intermediate valve to prevent fires. They also added that contents that might attract pets' interest should be securely packaged and stored.
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