16.10.2025 15:56
In North Carolina, a dog named Colton accidentally started a fire while playing at home. A lithium-ion battery ignited after being bitten by the dog, filling the living room with smoke. The dog's owner, David Sasser, who is also a firefighter, stated that the incident made him realize once again how dangerous lithium-ion batteries can be.
In an incident that occurred in North Carolina, USA, a dog named Colton accidentally started a fire while playing at home. According to security camera footage, the five-year-old dog bit into a lithium-ion battery he found in the living room, causing the battery to suddenly ignite and the living room to quickly fill with smoke.
The incident took place in Chapel Hill. The footage shows Colton playing with a small device on the floor, after which thick smoke begins to pour from the device. The dog, startled, quickly runs to the kitchen. A few seconds later, the battery turns into a large fireball, and the carpet catches fire. Fortunately, the fire extinguished itself quickly as no one was home at the time.
The dog's owner, David Sasser, is also a firefighter. Sasser described the events as follows:
"When Colton bit the battery, smoke started coming out all of a sudden. He didn't know what was happening and ran away in fear. Luckily, we were home, and the flames went out quickly. Only that small device burned; there was no other damage."
Sasser said that he realized once again how dangerous lithium-ion batteries can be after the incident:
"These batteries are generally safe, but they can be very dangerous if misused.
When the charge is low, unplug them, store them in a safe place to avoid crushing, and definitely keep them out of reach of dogs.
Also, dispose of batteries you no longer use properly instead of throwing them in the trash."
The footage of the incident was shared by the Chapel Hill Fire Department on Facebook. The post included the following statement:
"Colton is actually a good boy, but he found a lithium-powered device on the counter while his owners were not home."
Authorities reported that there have been 12 different lithium battery fires in the Raleigh area alone in the past year, and in nearby Durham, two garbage trucks caught fire due to batteries thrown in the trash.
Fortunately, Colton escaped the incident without any injuries, and there was no significant damage to the house.
This incident once again highlighted how dangerous the careless use of rechargeable batteries can be.