Ottawa firefighters swiftly responded to a fire incident on Thursday morning caused by a family dog chewing on a heated ski glove, resulting in the battery igniting. The fire, located in a two-story residence on Bevington Walk in Orléans, was initially detected by an alarm monitoring company, which promptly alerted the homeowner and emergency services.
Upon receiving multiple reports from passersby, firefighters arrived at the scene within four minutes to find heavy smoke and flames emanating from a ground-floor window. They effectively extinguished the blaze using hoses and conducted a thorough search of the premises to ensure all occupants were safe. Fortunately, they were able to rescue the family dog unharmed.
The fire was brought under control within approximately 10 minutes. According to OFS spokesperson Nick DeFazio, incidents of fires caused by pets are not uncommon, but the origin of this fire was notably unusual.
Security footage revealed that the dog had chewed on a heated ski glove containing a lithium-ion battery, which led to the ignition. The video footage captured the dog chewing on the glove, causing it to emit smoke and eventually catch fire, spreading to nearby items.
Following the incident, the affected residents, an adult, and a child were displaced. OFS emphasized the importance of handling lithium-ion batteries with caution, highlighting the potential safety hazards associated with damaged or mishandled batteries. The homeowner generously shared the video with the fire department to raise awareness and promote fire prevention measures.
OFS advised the public to store items with lithium-ion batteries securely, away from pets and children, and to promptly discontinue the use and dispose of any damaged or malfunctioning batteries. Additionally, they stressed the significance of monitored smoke alarms in promptly alerting authorities during fire emergencies.