Surveillance Footage Captures Cat Accidentally Igniting Kitchen Fire by Activating Stove Burner

A feline in Dallas County, Texas, inadvertently sparked a kitchen fire earlier this week by switching on the stove, leading to significant damage, according to local authorities.

The Garland Fire Department swiftly responded to the incident on Wednesday, managing to extinguish the flames promptly, as detailed in an official statement from the department.

Upon investigation, officials reviewed home surveillance footage, which revealed the cat jumping onto the stove. In doing so, the cat accidentally turned on the burner, setting nearby items ablaze.

The video captures the moment the cat hops off the stove just after activating the burner, which then ignited objects resting on the appliance.

In the video, the cat quickly leaps off the stove after turning on a burner, which ignited the items sitting on top.

A picture of the kitchen after the fire showed the fire had spread to other appliances, the kitchen door and the ceiling before firefighters were able to put it out.

In the video, the cat quickly jumps off the stove after turning on a burner, which ignited the items sitting on top. (Garland Fire Department)

There was no damage to the rest of the home. 

The department reminded residents to keep combustible items like paper towels or plastic containers off stovetops, to always turn off burners and ovens, to never leave cooking unattended and to keep the area clutter-free.

A picture of the kitchen after the fire showed it had spread to other appliances, the kitchen door and the ceiling before firefighters were able to put it out. (Garland Fire Department)

It also suggested using safety stove knob covers. 

“Even when a stove or cooktop is not actively in use, residual heat or accidental activation can quickly ignite nearby combustible items. A few seconds of prevention can stop a fire from starting,” the department said in a release.