A house cat caused a kitchen fire in Dallas County after jumping onto a stovetop and accidentally activating the appliance. The Garland Fire Department responded to the blaze and later reviewed home surveillance footage showing the incident.
Video reveals the cat hitting the stove knob and turning on the burner before jumping down and fleeing. “10 or 15 seconds after the cat gets up there, all the sudden a fire starts,” said Jim Dugger with the Garland Fire Department. “The cat jumps down and runs off.” Combustible items on the stove quickly ignited, spreading flames to other appliances, the kitchen door, and ceiling.
The fire caused significant kitchen damage but did not affect other areas of the home. Officials recommend keeping flammable materials away from stovetops and using safety knob covers to prevent accidental activation.