A recent event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, showed how household pets can sometimes cause serious problems when a dog accidentally started a house fire. An indoor camera recorded the moment the dog began chewing on a portable lithium-ion battery power bank. Soon after, a spark flew out, igniting a fire that quickly spread through the living room. This shocking video reminds us that some electronic devices can be risky in homes with pets.

According to Andy Little, a public information officer from the Tulsa Fire Department, the two dogs and a cat in the house were able to escape through a dog door. Thankfully, the family members also got out safely. Little pointed out how important the dog door was, saying that without it, the pets might not have made it out alive. This shows how having pet-friendly features can really help keep animals safe during emergencies.

The fire incident has raised awareness about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries, which are found in many portable electronics. These batteries can be especially risky if they get damaged or are not handled correctly, as they can catch fire. Pet owners need to be careful about leaving such devices where curious pets can reach them, since pets might not realize the dangers they pose.

After the fire, local news covered the family’s lucky escape and the fast response from the fire department. This incident serves as a warning for pet owners, reminding them to take steps to avoid similar situations. This includes keeping electronic devices secure and making sure pets cannot get to anything that could be harmful in the house. Overall, this situation highlights the importance of being aware of the safety of both pets and their living spaces. By taking action to reduce risks, pet owners can help keep their furry friends safe from unexpected dangers.

Original news source: Moment dog sparks house fire after chewing power bank (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team takes turns sending one member to act out a word or phrase related to the article without speaking. The rest of their team guesses what it is. Words/phrases can include “dog,” “fire,” “battery,” “dog door,” and “emergency.”

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Prepare a set of opinion questions based on the article, such as “Do you think all pet owners should have a dog door?” or “How should pet owners manage electronic devices in their homes?” Give students a few minutes to discuss their opinions in pairs and then share their thoughts with the class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Ask students to create a catchy headline for the article. They can work individually or in small groups. After a few minutes, have them share their headlines with the class, discussing why they chose those particular words and phrases.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Choose key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., “lithium-ion,” “ignite,” “emergency,” “escape”). Students will take turns drawing the word on the board while their classmates guess what it is. Encourage students to use complete sentences when guessing.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article, such as “What precautions do you think pet owners should take to ensure their pets’ safety?” Students first think individually for a minute, then pair up to discuss their thoughts, and finally share their ideas with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What caused the house fire in Tulsa, Oklahoma?
2. How did the dogs and cat manage to escape from the fire?
3. Why did the public information officer emphasize the importance of the dog door?
4. What are some potential dangers of lithium-ion batteries mentioned in the article?
5. Why is it important for pet owners to be cautious about where they leave electronic devices?
6. How did the local news respond to the family’s experience after the fire?
7. What steps can pet owners take to prevent similar fire incidents in their homes?
8. What overall message does the article convey about the safety of pets and their living environments?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A recent event in (1)______, Oklahoma, showed how household pets can sometimes cause serious (2)______ when a dog accidentally started a house fire. An indoor camera recorded the moment the dog began chewing on a (3)______ lithium-ion battery power bank. Soon after, a spark flew out, igniting a fire that quickly spread through the living room. This shocking video (4)______ us that some electronic devices can be risky in homes with pets.

According to Andy Little, a public information officer from the Tulsa Fire Department, the two dogs and a cat in the house were able to (5)______ through a dog door. Thankfully, the family members also got out safely. Little pointed out how important the dog door was, saying that without it, the pets might not have made it out alive. This (6)______ how (7)______ pet-friendly features can really help keep animals safe during emergencies.

The fire incident has raised (8)______ about the dangers of lithium-ion (9)______, which are found in many portable (10)______. These batteries can be especially risky if they get damaged or are not handled correctly, as they can catch fire. Pet owners need to be careful about leaving such devices where curious pets can reach them, since pets might not realize the dangers they pose.

After the fire, local news (11)______ the family’s (12)______ escape and the fast response from the fire department. This incident serves as a warning for pet owners, reminding them to take steps to avoid (13)______ situations. This includes keeping electronic devices secure and (14)______ sure pets cannot get to anything that could be harmful in the (15)______. Overall, this situation highlights the importance of being aware of the safety of both pets and their living spaces. By taking action to reduce (16)______, pet owners can help keep their furry friends safe from unexpected dangers.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on keeping pets in homes with electronic devices?

2. How would you feel if your pet accidentally caused a fire in your house?

3. Do you think it’s important to have pet-friendly features in homes? Why or why not?

4. Have you ever had a pet that got into something dangerous? What happened?

5. What is a safety measure you think every pet owner should take?

6. How do you think people can better protect their pets from household dangers?

7. Do you like having pets in your home? Why or why not?

8. What do you think about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries? Are you concerned about them?

9. How would you feel if you had to leave your pet behind in an emergency situation?

10. Do you think pets can sense danger before humans do? Why or why not?

11. What is a memorable experience you’ve had with a pet?

12. How do you think pet owners can educate themselves about keeping their pets safe?

13. What is a common mistake you think pet owners make regarding safety?

14. How would you react if you saw a video of a pet causing a dangerous situation?

15. Do you think more people should be aware of the risks that come with having pets? Why?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. accidentally
2. igniting
3. portable
4. risky
5. escape
6. awareness
7. damaged
8. handled
9. curious
10. response
11. secure
12. features
13. avoid
14. highlights
15. unexpected

Meanings:
(A) A reaction to something that happens
(B) Not expected or predicted
(C) Characteristics or qualities of something
(D) Starting a fire or causing something to burn
(E) Happening by chance, not planned
(F) Eager to know or learn something
(G) To keep away from something
(H) Involving danger or potential harm
(I) Easy to move or carry around
(J) Managed or dealt with
(K) Getting away from a dangerous situation
(L) Emphasizes or draws attention to something
(M) Knowing about something or being informed
(N) Broken or harmed in some way
(O) Safe and protected from danger
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What caused the house fire in Tulsa, Oklahoma?
(a) A faulty electrical outlet
(b) A dog chewing on a battery
(c) A candle left burning
(d) A gas leak

2. How did the pets escape from the house during the fire?
(a) Through a window
(b) They were carried out by family members
(c) Through a dog door
(d) They ran out the front door

3. What type of battery was involved in starting the fire?
(a) Nickel-cadmium battery
(b) Lead-acid battery
(c) Alkaline battery
(d) Lithium-ion battery

4. What did Andy Little emphasize about the dog door?
(a) It was crucial for the pets’ escape
(b) It should be replaced
(c) It was not necessary
(d) It was too small for the dogs

5. What should pet owners be cautious about regarding electronic devices?
(a) Using them while pets are nearby
(b) Charging them overnight
(c) Buying cheaper brands
(d) Keeping them out of pets’ reach

6. What was the public’s reaction to the fire incident?
(a) Increased awareness of battery dangers
(b) Indifference to the event
(c) Blame on the family for having pets
(d) Calls for stricter pet regulations

7. What is one of the main messages from the article?
(a) Dogs should not be allowed indoors
(b) Pet owners should enhance safety measures
(c) Batteries are always safe to use
(d) Fires can only happen in old houses

8. What was the outcome for the family involved in the fire?
(a) They lost their home
(b) They were injured
(c) They escaped safely
(d) They received no help from the fire department

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Andy Little, a public information officer from the Tulsa Fire Department, emphasized the importance of the dog door in helping the pets escape.
2. A dog in Tulsa purposely started a house fire by chewing on a lithium-ion battery power bank.
3. An indoor camera failed to capture the moment the fire began, missing how quickly it spread through the living room.
4. Local news covered the family’s escape and the quick response from the fire department after the incident.
5. The family members were trapped inside during the fire incident.
6. The fire incident raised awareness about the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries commonly found in portable electronics.
7. The two dogs and a cat in the house were unable to escape through a dog door.
8. Pet owners are advised to keep electronic devices secure and out of reach of curious pets.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What caused the house fire in Tulsa, Oklahoma?
2. How did the pets manage to escape from the fire?
3. Why are lithium-ion batteries considered dangerous for households with pets?
4. What steps can pet owners take to prevent similar fire incidents in their homes?
5. What message does this incident send to pet owners about safety?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What caused the house fire in Tulsa, Oklahoma?
The house fire was caused when a dog accidentally chewed on a portable lithium-ion battery power bank, which sparked and ignited a fire.

2. How did the dogs and cat manage to escape from the fire?
The dogs and cat were able to escape through a dog door.

3. Why did the public information officer emphasize the importance of the dog door?
The public information officer emphasized the importance of the dog door because it allowed the pets to escape safely, and without it, they might not have made it out alive.

4. What are some potential dangers of lithium-ion batteries mentioned in the article?
Lithium-ion batteries can be risky if they get damaged or are not handled correctly, as they can catch fire.

5. Why is it important for pet owners to be cautious about where they leave electronic devices?
Pet owners need to be cautious because curious pets might not realize the dangers posed by electronic devices, which could lead to accidents like fires.

6. How did the local news respond to the family’s experience after the fire?
The local news covered the family’s lucky escape and highlighted the fast response from the fire department.

7. What steps can pet owners take to prevent similar fire incidents in their homes?
Pet owners can keep electronic devices secure and make sure pets cannot reach anything that could be harmful in the house.

8. What overall message does the article convey about the safety of pets and their living environments?
The article conveys the message that pet owners should be aware of the safety of both their pets and their living spaces, and take action to reduce risks to keep their pets safe from unexpected dangers.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Tulsa
(2) problems
(3) portable
(4) reminds
(5) escape
(6) shows
(7) having
(8) awareness
(9) batteries
(10) electronics
(11) covered
(12) lucky
(13) similar
(14) making
(15) house
(16) risks
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. accidentally
Answer: (E) Happening by chance, not planned

2. igniting
Answer: (D) Starting a fire or causing something to burn

3. portable
Answer: (I) Easy to move or carry around

4. risky
Answer: (H) Involving danger or potential harm

5. escape
Answer: (K) Getting away from a dangerous situation

6. awareness
Answer: (M) Knowing about something or being informed

7. damaged
Answer: (N) Broken or harmed in some way

8. handled
Answer: (J) Managed or dealt with

9. curious
Answer: (F) Eager to know or learn something

10. response
Answer: (A) A reaction to something that happens

11. secure
Answer: (O) Safe and protected from danger

12. features
Answer: (C) Characteristics or qualities of something

13. avoid
Answer: (G) To keep away from something

14. highlights
Answer: (L) Emphasizes or draws attention to something

15. unexpected
Answer: (B) Not expected or predicted
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What caused the house fire in Tulsa, Oklahoma?
Answer: (b) A dog chewing on a battery

2. How did the pets escape from the house during the fire?
Answer: (c) Through a dog door

3. What type of battery was involved in starting the fire?
Answer: (d) Lithium-ion battery

4. What did Andy Little emphasize about the dog door?
Answer: (a) It was crucial for the pets’ escape

5. What should pet owners be cautious about regarding electronic devices?
Answer: (d) Keeping them out of pets’ reach

6. What was the public’s reaction to the fire incident?
Answer: (a) Increased awareness of battery dangers

7. What is one of the main messages from the article?
Answer: (b) Pet owners should enhance safety measures

8. What was the outcome for the family involved in the fire?
Answer: (c) They escaped safely
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Andy Little, a public information officer from the Tulsa Fire Department, emphasized the importance of the dog door in helping the pets escape. (Answer: True)
2. A dog in Tulsa purposely started a house fire by chewing on a lithium-ion battery power bank. (Answer: False)
3. An indoor camera failed to capture the moment the fire began, missing how quickly it spread through the living room. (Answer: False)
4. Local news covered the family’s escape and the quick response from the fire department after the incident. (Answer: True)
5. The family members were trapped inside during the fire incident. (Answer: False)
6. The fire incident raised awareness about the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries commonly found in portable electronics. (Answer: True)
7. The two dogs and a cat in the house were unable to escape through a dog door. (Answer: False)
8. Pet owners are advised to keep electronic devices secure and out of reach of curious pets. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧