A firefighter's dog accidentally set a house on fire by chewing a rechargeable battery.

CCTV footage shows the mischievous canine, named Colton, running away from the object he had mistaken for a toy after it began emitting smoke inside a home in North Carolina.

Moments later, flames erupted on the rug, with the pet seen lingering on the stairs. A panicked pet cat was spotted dashing upstairs.

Reports said the small fire was triggered when Colton played with and chewed on a lithium-ion battery that had not been properly stored.

The Chapel Hill Fire Department said: 'Thankfully, the dog wasn't injured, and other than some smoke damage and a ruined rug, the house is fine.

'Batteries store a lot of energy in a small place, from power tools and headphones, to laptops and smart watches. If overcharged or damaged, these batteries can overheat, start a fire, or explode.'