Dog Turns on Stove, Starts House Fire

Owner in Colorado Springs was able to extinguish it, but damage is significant
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 5, 2024 1:01 PM CDT

Stories occasionally surface of dogs saving their human families from a fire. This is not that story. Instead, firefighters in Colorado Springs, Colorado, say the pooch in this case started the fire by turning on a gas burner in the middle of the night, reports KKTV. Security video from inside the home shows they're right. "After talking to the homeowners and looking through their home security footage, we determined their pup got a bit curious and accidentally switched on the oven which had some boxes on top of it," says the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

Authorities say one of the homeowners was alerted to the blaze about 4:30am by a "high heat notice" from an Apple HomePod. He was able to extinguish it before firefighters arrived, though the department says the damage was "significant." The male homeowner was hospitalized for smoke inhalation, but no one else (including the dog) was injured. The family is currently displaced as the home gets repaired, according to a fundraiser. (More strange stuff stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X