A fire broke out at a home in the United States after a dog turned on a toaster while the owner was away, killing three pets.
According to CBS and other U.S. outlets on the 18th, the accident occurred on the 10th at a home in Belcamp, Harford County, Maryland. The homeowner was out at the time, and the cause of the fire was identified through security camera footage installed inside the house.
An investigation confirmed that a dog named Bo jumped onto the kitchen counter and turned on the toaster, and the fire started when flammable materials near the toaster caught fire. Authorities concluded that the accident was caused by the dog accidentally activating the electronic appliance.
About 30 firefighters who responded to the call brought the fire under control in about 20 minutes. Neighbors rescued the dog Bo and another dog named Addie, but a dog named Dakota and two cats failed to escape and died. Since no one was inside the house at the time, there were no human casualties.
Homeowner Chad Ellis confirmed the fire through the security camera from outside and immediately took action. "If it weren't for the camera, we wouldn't have saved the dogs, and the house would have burned down entirely," he said. "Bo used to climb onto the counter regularly, but I never expected something like this to happen."
He added, "I learned at a great cost that you must always unplug electrical appliances that are not in use."
Fire authorities said the home suffered extensive damage from the fire, soot, smoke, and the water used to extinguish it. Damage to the house was estimated at about $150,000 (about 202 million won), and damage to interior furnishings at $50,000 (about 67 million won), bringing the total damage to about $200,000 (about 270 million won).
