(TULSA, Oklahoma) – A dog in Tulsa, Oklahoma, started a house fire after biting a lithium-ion battery, fire officials said.

The Tulsa Fire Department recently released dramatic footage of the fire, which occurred in May, showing the portable cell phone battery sparking and bursting into flames, causing two dogs and a cat to flee.

The house was significantly damaged by the fire, but the pets were able to escape through a dog flap and were unharmed, said Andy Little, a fire department spokesman.

“However, the outcome could have been much worse if there had been no means of escape or if the family had been asleep at the time,” Little added.

Little called lithium-ion battery fires a “critical problem affecting fire departments across the United States.”

The batteries commonly used to charge cell phones are “known for storing a significant amount of energy in a compact space,” Little said.

“However, if this energy is released uncontrollably, it can generate heat, produce flammable and toxic gases and even lead to explosions,” he added.

According to experts, extreme heat exposure, mechanical damage, overcharging and the use of incompatible chargers can cause the devices to catch fire.

Little urged the public to be careful when handling lithium-ion batteries, such as keeping them out of the reach of children and pets.

To dispose of the devices, Little said they should be taken to a designated recycling center or hazardous waste collection point and not simply thrown in the trash, as this could damage the batteries and possibly cause fires.

“Let’s work together to prevent lithium-ion battery-related fires and keep our homes and communities safe,” Little said.

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