A FAMILY HOME was nearly destroyed when their pet dog Leo started a fire by switching on the cooker.

The Boxer/Staffordshire cross jumped up and touched a knob on the front of a cooker, turning the hob on.

The ignition caused a child’s car seat that had been left on the hob to catch alight. The dog’s owner told the BBC, “Leo was probably trying to get to a bag of biscuits left inside the child seat.”

The blaze damaged a third of the ground floor of the three-storey house. Fortunately, no one was injured and Leo also escaped unscathed.

It happened on Chandler Way in Peckham, London last month. However, London Fire Brigade have only just released details, in an attempt to highlight the dangers of blazes started by animals.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said, “We’re pleased that no one was injured in this fire and while unusual, it’s not unheard of for our crews to deal with incidents like this.

“It shows just how important it is to keep pets away from naked flames or cooker controls and to make sure kitchen surfaces and cookers are clear of food and other items that can easily catch fire.”

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