A Maryland homeowner used coal to lure snakes out of her home but instead set it on fire
When a Maryland homeowner realized her home was infested with snakes, she desperately tried to get them out but instead set her home on fire.
While using smoke from coals to lure the snakes out of her property, Montgomery County Fire said the owner caused a fire that resulted in about $1 million in damage to the home.
The fire broke out around 10 p.m. on Nov. 23 and Pete Piringer, a spokesman for the department, said on Twitter that it took 75 firefighters put out the blaze.
The fire started in the basement but was deemed accidental.
Piringer said the coals used were close to combustibles which set the blaze.
The homeowner and residents were unharmed but the state of the snakes is "undetermined," Piringer said.
ICYMI - Update Big Woods Rd, house fire 11/23; CAUSE, accidental, homeowner using smoke to manage snake infestation, it is believed heat source (coals) too close to combustibles; AREA of ORIGIN, basement, walls/floor; DAMAGE, >$1M; no human injures; status of snakes undetermined https://t.co/65OVYAzj4G pic.twitter.com/xSFYi4ElmT
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) December 3, 2021
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maryland homeowner sets house on fire trying to get rid of snakes