Hard-working Aussie couple lose their home and beloved cat after popular device found in millions of households sparked a horror house fire

A hard-working Aussie couple have lost their beloved cat and their family home after an iPad ignited while on charge and triggered a fire. 

The intense blaze has prompted a fire chief to reiterate the warning that devices should not be left plugged in while no one is at home.

The young family is also reiterating that message, after the Apple charger and iPad destroyed their home and caused the death of their cat. 

The fire erupted at the couple’s home in Jarrahdale, about 45km southwest of Perth, at about 1pm on Thursday. 

Jarrod and Java King, their three-year-old daughter and their pet dogs were not physically injured, however their cat was killed. 

The house was destroyed when the iPad, left charging in their bedroom, ignited.

‘It can happen so quickly, it’s pretty scary stuff,’ Mr King told 9News. 

The fire engulfed the bed and destroyed the house. 

The couple had been charging the iPad (pictured) with an Apple cable in their bedroom

‘It all seemed to go pretty quickly, it was sort of within about half an hour, everything was gone,’ he said.

‘It’s something you think is so normal and it can do so much damage.’

They say they had purchased the new device only about one year ago, and were using the Apple charger which came in the box.

Their daughter’s toys were destroyed.

West Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman Mark Hayes said he personally charged his phone near the kitchen sink, so a water source was close by should the phone overheat and ignite.

‘Know what you’ve put on charge and turn it off before you leave the house,’ he said.

‘Don’t leave anything on charge at all while you’re not home.’

Their daughter’s toys were destroyed in the blaze at their Jarrahdale home (pictured)

There are lithium ion batteries in millions of devices across Australia, including rechargeable vapes, laptops, phones and tablets, gaming consoles, e-scooters and camping equipment.

‘All types of batteries present risks, however Li-ion battery failure can be particularly catastrophic, due to the flammable and volatile liquid electrolyte solution within a Li-ion battery,’ a report by the ACCC in 2023 stated. 

There is no single consolidated national database of lithium ion-related fires, because each state has it’s own fire service.

However, there were more than 200 lithium ion related battery fires in New South Wales in 2023.

Using a charger not made by the device manufacturer, and overcharging the device, seriously increases the risk of a fire.