‘Happens so quickly’: Chilling iPad warning after fire destroys Perth home, killing pet

The family has had their home destroyed and a pet has been killed after they left an iPad charging while no one was home.

A Perth couple have lost their cat and their home after an iPad ignited while on charge.

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

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

The fire happened in the semirural southwest suburbs of Perth on Thursday about 1pm.

The couple say the iPad was relatively new. Picture: Channel 9

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 Channel 9.

The fire engulfed the bed and destroyed the house.

“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.

The device, bottom left, is seen here on the bed. Picture: Channel 9

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.”

“Don’t leave anything on charge at all while you’re not home,” Mr Hayes said.

The fire destroyed their daughter’s toys. Picture: Channel 9

There are lithium ion batteries in countless 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 2023

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.

Originally published as ‘Happens so quickly’: Chilling iPad warning after fire destroys Perth home, killing pet