A dog is responsible for a house fire in Belcamp, Maryland, that resulted in the deaths of three pets and an estimated $200,000 in damages. The incident occurred on Friday when a dog named Bo reportedly jumped onto a kitchen counter and turned on a toaster, igniting nearby combustible materials.
Fire officials confirmed the cause of the blaze after reviewing home security footage. The homeowners were not present at the time of the fire. Bo and another dog, Addie, were rescued by neighbors. However, a third dog, Dakota, and two cats perished in the fire.
The estimated damage includes $150,000 for the structure of the home and an additional $50,000 for personal property inside. The National Fire Protection Association reports that approximately 1,000 accidental fires are started by pets annually. These incidents often involve animals turning on appliances or knocking over candles.
In a separate incident in 2024, a dog in Tulsa, Oklahoma, started a fire by biting into a lithium-ion phone battery, which then sparked and burst into flames. Footage showed the pets scrambling to escape the spreading fire.