FLINT JOURNAL (Michigan) 02 March 07 Cat causes fire (James L. Smith)
Lapeer: When the cat's away the mouse plays, but what happens when the cat is left home alone?
In the case of one cat owner, the cat knocked over a heat lamp keeping a reptile warm in its container starting a small fire that did about $7,000 damage about 3 p.m. Thursday, said Lapeer fire chief Terry Kluge.
Firefighters responded to the house after a passerby heard smoke detectors from inside the house, Kluge said.
The heat lamp burned through a hardwood floor, but in a fortunate turn for the homeowner, the lamp also burned through a plastic water pipe which acted as an impromptu sprinkler system helping to douse the fire, Kluge said.
Damage was contained to the floor and basement. The cat and reptile survived the fire, Kluge said.
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