According to fire officials in the capital Seoul, more than 100 fires have been set by cats in the last three years, so pet owners in South Korea should be cautious.
According to a statement released by the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Department on Thursday, cats were responsible for 107 house fires between January and November of this year.
According to the fire brigade, the cats are suspected of starting the fires by turning on electric stoves. Cats may switch on electric stoves by leaping on touch-sensitive buttons, and the appliances can catch fire if they become too hot.
The fires wounded four individuals, with little over half of them starting while pet owners were out, according to the statement.
“Cat-related fires have been occurring recently,” said Chung Gyo-chul, a department official. “We encourage pet-owning homes to pay additional care since a fire can spread quickly when no one is home.”
The agency also encouraged cat owners to keep flammable items off the stove, such as paper towels. To avoid fires, is recommended utilizing an electric burner with an automatic lock feature.
Pet-related house fires are on the rise in Seoul, according to the department.
According to the government, 31 such incidents happened between January and September 2019, up from only eight in 2016. Cats were at blame for the majority of the fires, according to the report.
And it isn’t only a South Korean concern.
Pets are responsible for around 1,000 house fires in the United States each year, according to the American Humane Association. As a safety precaution, the group recommends that owners cover or remove stove knobs, and that owners dissuade their pets from engaging with a stove.