Popular Dog: HomePod saves apartment and dachshund from housefire

A dog started a fire in Colorado Springs. HomePod alerted homeowners to the fire. [CSFD]
Apple’s HomePod has saved a family from a fire that could have been fatal, which was caused by a curious dog. The Colorado Springs Fire Department responded to a house fire at 4:43 am on June 26th. On arrival, however, they found that the fire had been extinguished in the kitchen by the homeowners. In a Facebook video, the CSFD showed security footage taken from the room that proved the dog of the owner was responsible for the fire. The curious dog climbed up on his hind legs and investigated the boxes on top of a stove. It walked away after accidentally turning on the heating element below the boxes. On the camera feed, the stove top was on fire. Flames reached the ceiling. One homeowner was transported to a hospital for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported to humans or dogs. The HomePod was partly responsible for the early detection of the fire, despite its unusual origin. Apple devices allegedly displayed a warning about “high heat” that prompted the homeowners to act. The notice is likely to have been part of a new feature that was introduced in early 2023. The feature uses the onboard microphones of the second-generation HomePod or the HomePod Mini to listen for smoke and CO2 alarms and trigger an alert on the user’s device. The CSFD recommends that this feature serves as a good reminder to install working smoke alarms in and outside of every sleeping area and on each floor of the home. Also, make sure that all combustibles and appliances are kept away from the stovetop or oven.