Dog Sparks Fire After Biting Lithium-Ion Battery Inside Chapel Hill Home

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — A family dog accidentally sparked a fire inside a Chapel Hill home after biting into a lithium-ion battery, according to a report from WRAL News.

The incident, captured on home security footage, shows a battery-powered device bursting into flames just a few feet away from the family’s five-year-old rescue dog, Colton.

Firefighter’s Home Nearly Catches Fire

Colton’s owner, David Sasser, a firefighter with the Chapel Hill Fire Department, said he was stunned when his home’s alarm system notified him of smoke.
“[My] heart sank. I had no idea what was going on,” Sasser told WRAL. “I came home to find that the rug had burned up.”

Fortunately, no one was home at the time, and the family returned quickly enough to prevent the flames from spreading. “Thankfully, it pretty much fizzled out because of the rug and because we were home so quickly,” Sasser said. “[The rug] was the only thing we lost.”

Lithium-Ion Batteries Increasing Fire Risk

Experts warn that while lithium-ion batteries are widely used and generally safe, they can become volatile when damaged, punctured, or improperly stored.
Durham Fire Chief Robert Zoldos told WRAL that such batteries have become a growing fire hazard across the state.

“What we are really concerned about as a fire department is how they are disposed of at the end of their life,” Zoldos explained. “If not, it can lead to some very bad circumstances.”

In the Raleigh-Durham area, officials have linked lithium battery mishandling to at least a dozen fires in the past year — including two trash truck fires started by discarded batteries.

How to Prevent Lithium Battery Fires

Safety officials recommend the following to reduce the risk of home fires:

• Use only manufacturer-approved chargers.
• Charge devices on hard, non-flammable surfaces.
• Never leave electronics plugged in overnight.
• Properly dispose of old batteries at local hazardous waste centers.

Residents in Wake, Durham, and Orange counties can drop off lithium-ion batteries at designated hazardous waste sites listed on each county’s website.

A Close Call and a Safety Reminder

Sasser said the close call was a wake-up call even for someone who works in fire safety.
“We learned to be really aware of things in our home and to operate them safely,” he said.

The family’s dog, Colton, was unharmed — but his curiosity served as an important reminder about the hidden dangers of everyday devices.

For more local safety updates and community alerts, visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.