Can Turn On Electric Stoves, Cats Cause More Than 100 House Fires In South Korea

Illustration of a cat. (Wikimedia Commons/Kim Dae Jeung)

JAKARTA - Commonly known as cute pets, cats are also a source of complicated problems in South Korea, namely house or residential fires.

This is as conveyed in an advisory issued by fire authorities in the capital Seoul, which urges pet owners to be on the lookout for more than 100 house fires.

In a statement Thursday, the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Department said cats caused a total of 107 house fires between January 2019 and November 2021.

The cats are believed to have started the fire by turning on an electric stove, the department said. Cats can turn on electric stoves by pressing a touch-sensitive button. After overheating, the equipment may catch fire.

Four people were injured in the fire, more than half of which started when pet owners were out, the statement added.

"Cat-related fires have continued to break out recently", said Chung Gyo-chul, an official with the department, citing CNN on December 31.

"We advise households with pets to pay extra attention as fires can spread widely when no one is home."

Illustration of a cat. (Wikimedia Commons/Jennifer Barnard)

The department also advises cat owners to remove flammable objects, such as paper towels, from the stove. It is recommended to use an electric stove with an automatic lock function to prevent the risk of fire.

The Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Department further explained that pet-related house fires are increasing in the capital.

Between January and September 2019, there were 31 such fires, a significant increase from just eight in 2016, the department said.

"Most of the fires are caused by cats", he added.

To note, the problem of pets causing fires does not only occur in South Korea. According to the American Humane Association, pets are responsible for about 1,000 home fires in the United States each year.

The association encourages owners to put covers on or remove stove knobs as a safety measure and says owners should prevent their pets from interacting with stoves.