By Yoon Hee Young

Video = WGN's YouTube channel

Leading U.S. media have covered the warning issued by the Seoul fire department that cats can cause house fires.

WGN News in Chicago on Jan. 6 said, "Fire officials in Korea recently issued a warning saying cats caused more than 100 fires over the past three years."

"In the U.S., about 1,000 home fires are started by pets every year."

USA Today, CNN and The Washington Post also covered the story, saying the report was from a Korean fire department.

In a Jan. 5 article headlined "Cats - keep them off the stove, officials warn. The pets started over 100 house fires in South Korea," USA Today said, "A statement released Thursday by the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Department noted the staggering number of house fires caused by cats came as a result of cats accidentally switching on electric stoves by jumping on sensitive buttons of appliances."

Quoting Jeong Gyo-cheol, head of the Field Operation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters, the article said, "Cat-related fires are continuing to occur recently," adding, "We advise households with pets to pay extra attention as fire could spread widely when no one is at home."

USA Today on Jan. 5 covered the warning issued by Seoul's fire department that cats can cause house fires. (Screen capture from USA Today)