Video : Dog ignites fire after chewing lithium battery in USA

 

A dog chewing on a lithium-ion battery ignited a serious house fire in Oklahoma, and video capturing the moment has been used by a local fire department to highlight the potential dangers of these batteries.

The footage, shared last week on the Tulsa Fire Department’s Facebook page, shows a dog chewing on what it chose as a toy while sitting on a cushion in a living room. Another dog is visible on a couch, with a cat on the floor, as the chewing dog suddenly causes sparks to fly from the battery.

The dog quickly pulls back as the cushion catches fire. Both dogs are seen watching as the flames grow.

According to the fire department, the Tulsa-area home sustained significant damage from the fire in May, but fortunately, both dogs and the cat managed to escape through a pet door.

In the post, fire department spokesman Andy Little explained that the battery the dog was chewing on was designed for charging cell phones. He noted that while lithium-ion batteries can store a large amount of energy in a small space, if that energy is released uncontrollably, it can generate heat, produce flammable and toxic gases, and even cause explosions. Little emphasized that these batteries can become hazardous if damaged, overcharged, or exposed to extreme heat.