A dog jumping onto a kitchen counter accidentally activated a toaster Friday evening, triggering a house fire in Belcamp that killed three pets, authorities said.
Abingdon Fire Company crews arrived at the single-family home at 4319 Foxglove Court shortly after 5:30 p.m. and brought the blaze under control within about 20 minutes. The owners were away when the fire broke out.
Deputy state fire marshals used Ring home security footage to determine the cause. Video showed one of the family's dogs jumping onto the kitchen counter and pawing at items near the stove. The dog's movement activated the toaster, which ignited combustible materials nearby.
Neighbors alerted by the developing emergency rescued two dogs from the burning home. A third dog and two cats died in the fire. The family's bearded dragon, found in the home after firefighters extinguished the flames, survived but required 24 hours of critical care. The dog that triggered the fire was among the two neighbors rescued.
The fire began in the kitchen and spread through other portions of the home. Deputy state fire marshals classified the incident as accidental. Structural damage was estimated at approximately $150,000, with an additional $50,000 in damage to the home's contents.
Fire officials have not released the family's name or indicated whether they are receiving assistance from community resources for displaced residents.
