Dog turns on stove burner and ignites fire in Mason City; two cats perish

A dog trying to sneak food accidently turned on a burner on a stove, igniting a fire that left two cats dead in Mason City.

The Mason City Fire Department was called at 2:48 p.m. Friday and responded to a report of an apartment fire at 1601 Sixth Place Southeast. Fire crews arrived to the sound of smoke alarms and found smoke coming from the doors and a fire in the kitchen area.

The fire was quickly extinguished. The investigation determined the fire was caused by the gas stove being turned on when the family's dog jumped onto the stove seeking food left in a plastic bowl. The blaze was ruled accidental.

The occupants were not home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. The dog was out of the apartment when firefighters arrived. Firefighters rescued one cat, while two o