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Video shows fire start after family dog knocks into stove ignition button

SOUTHWICK, Mass. — A family is lucky their house and their dogs are safe after a fire broke out when no one was home.

The Southwick Fire Department posted a video on its Facebook page about the incident.

The video shows one of the family's dogs make a few attempts at grabbing some old pancakes left on the stove.

The dog finally knocks down the plate - but in the process, also hits the ignition button on the gas stove.

That's when it turns scary.

The video shows flames start up on the stove - and eventually the house begins to fill with smoke.

Alarm Works

Alarms Work! We would like to thank a local resident for sharing this video. First, we always caution about putting items on the stove. In this case, the family pet decided to help themselves to some leftover pancakes while the owners were away. Unfortunately, the dog hit the ignition button on the gas stove. Within minutes you will see the item on stove begin to ignite. In this case, the homeowner was connected to a monitored alarm system calling responders saving severe damage. If you have pets or young children in the home look into safety covers for your stove controls.

Posted by Southwick Fire Department on Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Thankfully, the department said the homeowner was connected to a monitored alarm system that called first responders, who were able to come put the flames out.

The department is using this video as encouragement for people with young children or pets to consider safety covers to place over stove controls.