Seoul Fire&Disaster Headquarters Announces Statistics on Electric Range Fire Due to Cats

Seoul Fire&Disaster Headquarters Announces Statistics on Electric Range Fire Due to Cats

Source: Press Release by Seoul City

[2021-12-30th]

The Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters released fire statistics on electric ranges caused by cats on the 31st and called for special attention as the number of households raising pets is increasing. 

According to the statistics, a total of 107 fires occurred in electric ranges by cats from 2019 to November this year.

Among them, a total of 54 cases were confirmed to have occurred while residents were away from work or out. In particular, this year, 20 out of 33 related fires occurred in the absence of residents. 

 

A fire caused by cats while the resident was away (Busan = Yonhap News) Fire broke out at 10:41 p.m. on September 9, 2021, at a villa in Yeongdo-gu, Busan, due to overheating of kitchen induction. Fire authorities estimate that two cats in the house touched the induction switch while the resident was out, causing a fire. [Provided by the Busan Fire and Disaster Headquarters]

A total of four people were injured, one last year and three this year. The total amount of property damage was 141.5 million won, about 1.32 million won per fire. 

Recently, an officetel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, also caught a fire presumed to be overheated in an electric stove. The fire was extinguished in 29 minutes after burning some of the kitchen facilities around 21:47 p.m. on the 20th. 

The Fire and Disaster Headquarters is investigating the exact cause of the fire, believing that the cat raised while the resident was away from home pressed the electric stove power button in the kitchen to cause of the fire. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the fire department estimated that 9.19 million won in property damage occurred. 

An official from the city's Fire and Disaster Headquarters said, "Cats among pets have a wide range of behavior, they often climb up the sink and step on the electric stove switch to create fires," adding, "We hope you thoroughly manage the power of the electric stove when you leave the house." 

In addition, in order to prevent fires caused by cats, combustibles such as kitchen towels that can stimulate the cat's curiosity should be removed around the microwave power button. It is also a good idea to install an electric range with a built-in operation lock function. 

"There have been a series of cat-related fires recently," said Jeong Kyo-chul, head of the on-site response team at the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters. "If there are no people in the house, it can lead to a large fire, so we ask for special attention. 

(END)

 

*** editor's note ***

 

Curiosity kills the cat? Nope, the cat kills you.