Hot Dog: Puppy Plays With Lighter and Sets Fire to Melbourne Home
A curious puppy named Archie caused some serious damage when he was checking out an interesting toy he found in his owner’s Melbourne apartment – a barbecue lighter.
According to his Instagram account, the 10-month-old Frenchton, a mix between a Boston terrier and a French bulldog, enjoys his family, playing outside, and, judging by the handle @archie_the_arsonist, instigating terrifying conflagrations.
The good news is that no one was hurt in the October 16 fire, and the dog’s owner, who was interviewed on a local radio show, estimates that firefighters were on the scene within 20 minutes of the fire’s start.
The fire did result in an estimated AUS$60,000 (about USD$40,000) in damage to the owner’s apartment.
Other residents in the apartment complex were evacuated until the smoke was cleared.
A surveillance camera captured the moment Archie jumps on a couch and begins to play around with something. Then, within minutes, a fire is roaring on the cushion next to him. Archie stares at the flames for a moment before jumping off the couch and running out of frame.
His owner said the scary incident unfolded within four minutes of her leaving the home.
According to the 3AW radio interview, by the time she saw the footage and called firefighters, they had already sent a crew over to the apartment complex.
Metropolitan Fire Brigade Commander Graeme O’Sullivan told 10 News First, “It’s a little bit of a funny story, but I guess the main message is just for people to make sure to store those items safely, because this just goes to show what can happen.”
Archie’s owner said he was “really sooty” after the incident but in fine health. Credit: Danielle Borkowski via Storyful
