Pet Caused 61 Fires in 10 Years in Japan

A study conducted by the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) in Japan has revealed a significant increase in house fires caused by pets in recent years. Previously, there were very few house fires related to pets before 2014. However, with more people keeping pets indoors and the growing popularity of gas stoves with push-button ignition, this number has been rapidly rising.

According to the study, there have been 61 house fires in the past decade that were unintentionally caused by pets. The newer generation of push-button gas stoves is preferred by many due to the convenience of temperature control. Paloma Co, a Japanese gas appliance company, participated in the NITE study and stated that approximately 90% of house fires are caused by gas stoves, while the remaining incidents are attributed to pets chewing on electrical cords or urinating on exposed electrical outlets.

A researcher from NITE told Mainichi newspaper that curious cats are the main culprits behind these fires when they come into contact with the stove’s ignition buttons or knock over nearby objects. On the other hand, dogs tend to cause fires by standing on their hind legs and pressing the ignition button.

As a result of these findings, NITE has urged pet owners to take the following precautions: when leaving pets at home, turn off the main gas valve or the main power supply for gas and electric stoves; and confine pets in cages when there is no one at home.

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