January 9, 2026 l Reporter: Johnson
OTTAWA — A seemingly mundane morning turned dramatic in Orléans on Thursday when a family dog inadvertently sparked a house fire after chewing on a heated ski glove powered by a lithium‑ion battery, Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) confirmed in a statement.
The blaze broke out shortly before 9:07 a.m. inside a two‑storey home on Bevington Walk, after the dog left unattended with access to the glove punctured the battery while gnawing on the garment. Security footage released by the family captured the moment the glove began to smoke and ignite on a couch, quickly spreading flames to nearby fabric.
Calls from a fire‑alarm monitoring service and multiple passersby reporting visible flames prompted a rapid response from Ottawa firefighters. Crews arrived on scene within four minutes of dispatch and encountered heavy smoke and flames emanating from a first‑floor bay window.
Firefighters battled the blaze using hose lines and coordinated interior attacks that brought the fire under control by about 9:23 a.m. — roughly 10 minutes after their arrival before it could spread further through the home. During searches of the residence, crews located and rescued the dog, which was uninjured.
Though no human injuries were reported, one adult and a child have been displaced due to fire and smoke damage, OFS said. The family’s home sustained enough damage that temporary relocation was necessary as restoration and safety assessments proceed.
Ottawa fire officials used the incident to warn residents about the risks associated with lithium‑ion batteries — commonly found in heated apparel, power tools, and electronics when damaged, punctured, crushed, or improperly handled. Such batteries can overheat and ignite if their internal cells are compromised, posing a serious fire hazard.
“Residents are reminded to store items containing lithium‑ion batteries safely, keep them out of reach of pets and children, and immediately stop using and properly dispose of any battery or device that shows signs of damage, swelling, overheating, or malfunction,” the fire service said.
Emergency services emphasise that while this fire was accidental, it underscores the hidden dangers of battery‑powered accessories and the importance of vigilance in homes with pets and young children.