A dog accidentally turned on a toaster in a Maryland home, sparking a fire that killed three pets while the owners were away. Fire crews responded to the house on 4319 Foxglove Court in Belcamp shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Friday, according to the Abingdon Fire Company. The blaze was contained in about 20 minutes, officials said.
Neighbors rescued two dogs from the home, but a third dog and two cats died in the fire. The family's bearded dragon was found alive and survived after 24 hours in critical care. Fire officials determined the fire started in the kitchen before spreading to other parts of the home. A Ring home security camera recorded the incident, showing the dog jumping onto the kitchen counter and pawing at items, which led to the toaster igniting nearby combustibles. The dog that turned on the toaster was among those rescued by neighbors.
Deputy state fire marshals ruled the fire's cause as accidental. The house sustained extensive damage, with officials estimating about $150,000 in structural damage and $50,000 in content damage.