PENTICTON — A South Okanagan apartment unit was completely smoked out Sunday, setting off the fire alarm.
Phillip Silbernagel was at work when he received a call that something in his home caught fire.
He and the fire crews were surprised to find the cause of the flames was a stuffed animal.
The toy sheep seemingly combusted on its own.
“The batteries just corroded and caused the fire in the animal,” says Silbernagel.
“There’s no way to get into the animal to replace the battery. I’d have to actually have to cut into the stuffed animal, and I just didn’t feel bothered to do that.”
This particular fire is the first of its kind in Penticton.
“Batteries can produce their own heat and that’s probably what started this fire.”
Fire officials are investigating to see if this type of toy has had any incidents in the past and/or any recalls.
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