COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Let this be a warning to families with pets: curiosity can be destructive. A Colorado Springs family learned this lesson the hard way recently, when the family dog accidentally started a fire in the kitchen.
Officials with the Colorado Springs Fire Department say the incident happened around 4 a.m. the morning of June 26. The homeowners called 911 saying they had experienced a fire on the stove in their home that had since been extinguished.
"Upon investigation, crews did not find any active fire but did find evidence of a fire," CSFD said in a Facebook account of the incident. "The male homeowner was able to extinguish the fire before crews got there but was later transported to a local hospital for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported to people or pets.
"After talking to the homeowners and looking through their home security footage, we determined their pup got a bit curious and accidentally switched on the oven which had some boxes on top of it," they continued.
The family credits their Apple HomePod for alerting them to the fire via a "High Heat" notice.
"This is a good reminder to always have working smoke alarms inside and outside every sleeping area and on every floor of the home," CSFD officials said. "Ensure all combustibles are away from your stovetop/oven, and know two ways out of every room in your home in the event of a fire."