An Australian couple lost their beloved cat and their family home when their iPad caught fire while charging.

The fierce blaze prompted the fire chief to reiterate his warning that electrical appliances should not be left plugged in when no one is home.

A young family repeated that message after an Apple charger and iPad destroyed their home and caused the death of their cat.

The fire broke out at the couple’s home in Jarrahdale, about 45km southwest of Perth, at about 1pm on Thursday.

Jarrod and Java King, their three-year-old daughter, and their dogs were not physically injured, but their cat was killed.

A home was destroyed when an iPad left charging in a bedroom caught fire.

“It can happen so quickly, it’s really scary,” Mr. King told 9News.

The fire consumed the bed and destroyed the house.

Perth couple Jarrod and Java lost their home when a charging iPad caused a devastating house fire (pictured are the couple holding the damaged Apple device)

The couple charged their iPad (pictured) using an Apple cable in their bedroom

“It all happened very quickly. Within half an hour, it was all gone,” he said.

“It’s something that seems so normal, but can do so much harm.”

They claim they purchased the device new just a year ago and were using the Apple charger that came in the box.

Their daughter’s toys were destroyed.

Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman Mark Hayes said he personally charged his phone near the kitchen sink so he had a water source nearby if the phone overheated and caught fire.

“Be careful what you plug into your charger and turn it off before you leave home,” he said.

“Don’t leave anything on when you’re not at home.”

Their daughter’s toys were destroyed in a fire at their home in Jarrahdale (pictured)

Lithium-ion batteries are found in millions of devices across Australia including vape pens, laptops, phones, tablets, games consoles, electric scooters and camping equipment.

“All battery types pose risks, but failure of lithium-ion batteries can be particularly catastrophic due to the flammable and volatile electrolyte solution in the lithium-ion battery,” the 2023 ACCC report said.

There is no single, consolidated national database of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries because each state has its own fire department.

However, in 2023 there were more than 200 lithium-ion battery fires in New South Wales.

Using a charger other than the device manufacturer’s and overcharging the device seriously increases the risk of fire.