Dog accidentally starts kitchen fire which almost kills family cat

A dog caused a devastating kitchen fire by jumping up on the worktop and turning on the toaster at a home in Kent.

The family had a smoke alarm, which sounded, alerting the quick-thinking 12-year-old inside to the danger.

He immediately went outside with Herbie of the home in Margate, and Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called. It sent two fire engines and crews, who used breathing apparatus and hose reel jets to put out the fire.

But poor terrified Mush, the cat, was found by crews unconscious where she had been hiding between two pillows. The kitchen at the Brooke Avenue home was destroyed in the fire and other parts of the property were damaged by heat and smoke.

Firefighters used a pet oxygen mask to resuscitate her. The fire service’s volunteer response team went to the home to support the family and help in arranging alternative temporary accommodation.

The family thanked the fire service and said they were proud of the ‘quick thinking actions of their son’ during the incident on October 16.

‘He reacted so quickly to the smoke alarms and knew that he had to get out of the house, and was able to get Herbie out too. We didn’t realise that Herbie jumping up could result in so much damage, and that pets could accidentally start fires this way. So we want to share what has happened to raise awareness,’ they said.

KFRS area manager for customer safety Suzanna Chisholm said: ‘The swift actions of this young man undoubtedly made a huge difference to the outcome of this incident, saving his pets and preventing further damage to his home. It goes to show how important working smoke alarms are.’

‘Dogs can start fires.’

She added: ‘You don’t necessarily expect a dog to be able to start a kitchen fire – but it can and does happen. To help reduce the chance of electrical fires we advise everyone to switch off and unplug electrical items off when not in use, which will also prevent pets, or children, accidentally turning them on.

‘People can also close their kitchen door when not in the room, if they have one, to make sure pets don’t jump up and knock switches, like cooker knobs.’,

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