Video Shows Fire In Tulsa Living Room Starting After Dog Chews On Power Bank

Home surveillance video from a Tulsa living room shows a dog chewing on a power bank with a lithium-ion battery inside.

Suddenly, there is a flash, and a fire breaks out within minutes, leaving the two dogs and a cat in danger.

"The thing that's important about this situation is how fast you see this fire progress,” said Andy Little with the Tulsa Fire Department. “It begins at the top, those heated gases rise, and then, they slowly lower, and you can actually see the whole apartment darken down and then things start combusting in the house.”

Andy Little with the Tulsa Fire Department said what happened May 1st at that home could happen anywhere, and battery-related fires are more common.

"What we know is that lithium-ion batteries, if their housing is damaged, they're exposed to extreme heat, or they somehow rupture, they can cause toxic gases, they can create fires and even explosions,” said Little.

In this fire, all pets made it out safely thanks to their dog door.

"Had there not been a dog door, they very well could have passed away,” said Little.

But fires are not the only dangers when it comes to batteries.

News On 6 talked to Dr. Troy McNamara at Animal Emergency Center in Tulsa.

He has been a veterinarian for 28 years and said he has seen a growing number of cases related to batteries, with the last one being two weeks ago.

McNamara said pets chewing on or swallowing batteries leads to three dangers, with the first being battery acid is toxic.

"The second is the physical damage if they do chew them,” said McNamara. “They have sharp edges, which can cut. And then the third is going to be if they actually get obstructed, so they get stuck in the stomach or intestines along the way."

McNamara said if your pet shows signs of battery poisoning, which includes throwing up, diarrhea and trouble breathing, go to the vet immediately.

Experts said to prevent poisonings and fires, where you store batteries and charge electronic devices matters.

"We don't want people to charge devices right at the exit,” said Little. “Put it somewhere else, so if it should start a fire, they would have a way to get out of their home.”

The homeowner did not want to go on camera but wanted to share the video as a warning to other pet owners.

Firefighters also said make sure charging devices are compatible with your electronics and don't overcharge.