CHAPEL HILL, NC — A North Carolina firefighter's home narrowly escaped serious damage after his dog bit into a phone charger, causing a small fire. The incident highlights the growing danger of lithium battery fires.
When firefighter David Sasser's dog Colton bit into a phone charger at their Chapel Hill home, it triggered an unexpected explosion and fire.
"Immediately got a phone call from the monitoring agency saying, 'Hey, we received a fire alarm. We can check your cameras," Sasser said. "They said, 'Actually, we see a fire in your living room.' My heart sank."
The fire in Sasser's home fortunately fizzled out in the carpet. However, a similar incident in Tulsa last year had more severe consequences.
While the pets in the Tulsa incident escaped safely, the house suffered significant damage from the lithium battery fire. These batteries cause thousands of fires annually across the country.
Initially, Sasser only shared the video of Colton's incident with friends. But recently, the Chapel Hill Fire Department saw broader educational value in it.
"Our fire chief said, 'Do you mind if we use that video? Let's send that message far and wide.' I said, 'Absolutely,'" Sasser recalled.
When asked if he expected the video to receive such widespread attention, Sasser replied, "No, not at all."
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