Dog hungry for pizza accidentally turns on stove, starting fire in Dinwiddie home

DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A dog who was hungry for a slice of pizza accidentally turned on the stove in a Dinwiddie County home, starting a fire.

On Sunday, Sept. 7, the McKenney Volunteer Fire Department took to Facebook to share a cautionary tale about leaving items on top of your stove.

According to officials, the dog shown in the photos below was looking to nab a slice of pizza from a pizza box sitting on the stove. He accidentally turned on the stovetop, which caused said pizza box to catch fire.

Photos from a Dinwiddie County house fire that was accidentally started by a dog. (Photos: McKenney Volunteer Fire Department)

"He was caught red-handed and couldn’t blame it on the cat," fire officials said. "Fortunately, the dog woke up the homeowners, who acted quickly and put the fire out."

You should never leave anything on top of your stove, whether it's on or off. Little hands -- including furry ones -- or even something as simple as an unintentional "bump" can be enough to turn the stove on, and whatever's on top of your stove will quickly become fuel.

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"Flammable items like pizza boxes, towels, plastic, or even empty pans can quickly start a fire," fire officials said. "A simple mistake can lead to major damage or injury — keep stovetops clear at all times."

Fire officials added that having a fire extinguisher nearby is also a great idea.

The department thanked the homeowner involved in this story for allowing fire officials to share it as an educational reminder.