Owners warned over fire risk posed by pets

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has attended a "high number" of incidents involving animals

A "high number" of blazes being caused by animals has sparked the launch of a new campaign by a fire service.

Firefighters in North Yorkshire had attended more call-outs involving pets in the last year than blazes caused by lithium batteries and electric bikes or scooters, which were common in other parts of the country, according to the county's fire service.

Watch manager Craig Lyons said there had been about 10 blazes involving pets in the past year, including those caused by animals accidentally switching on cooking appliances or mice chewing through electrical wires.

Mr Lyons said pet owners should try to make their homes "pet proof", with measures such as avoiding loose wires and clutter.

Owners should also make sure their animals were not left home alone in the kitchen with a hob that could be switched on, and cat flaps should also be installed when possible, he said.

Mr Lyons believes the campaign is the first of its kind in the country

Three dogs had to be rescued from a house fire in Harrogate last year which started after the canines managed to switch on the property's cooker.

Mr Lyons said: "We were getting a high number of these incidents so we decided to do something about it.

"We have had a couple of incidents involving house fires where people have left appliances on and unfortunately the pets have been in the property on their own.

"Then we have had incidents involving pets where they have knocked a candle over or they have knocked the knobs on the hob."

While cats and dogs were generally involved in such incidents, "unwanted pets" such as mice and rats were also sometimes responsible, the officer said.

It was up to owners to make sure their homes were pet-proofed, Mr Lyons said.

"We can't educate a pet how to keep calm and how to keep safe, they will probably just panic."

The North Yorkshire campaign, which runs throughout March and April, was believed to be the first of its kind, he added.

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