Overview
- The Chapel Hill Fire Department said the charged, unplugged lithium‑ion battery was not recalled but was stored unsafely within the dog's reach.
- Security footage shows Colton chewing the device before it emitted smoke and burst into flames on a rug, with no injuries and only minor smoke damage reported.
- Homeowner David Sasser, a Chapel Hill firefighter, received an alert from his monitored security system and returned quickly, limiting the damage.
- Officials pointed to National Fire Protection Association guidance that damaged or improperly used, charged, or stored lithium‑ion batteries can overheat, catch fire, or explode.
- Local reporting notes a broader pattern in the region, with Raleigh recording roughly a dozen battery‑related fires over the past year and Durham trash‑truck fires tied to improper battery disposal.