On Friday night at about 21:20 the power in my house went out. I checked the fuse board and it was the garage RCD that had tripped. I went out to check the garage. I lifted open the door and thick black smoke pored out. Once this had cleared I could see more smoke coming from the seams of the door that leads into the snake room. I then realised that there was probably a fire inside so I called the fire brigade.
They opened the door and more black smoke poured out. They couldn’t see into the room so for precaution they shot two quick blasts of water in to kill any vapour that could ignite with the opening of the door. It looks as though the fire had gone out by itself. They were greeted by a male ghost that had made it out of a vision hatchling rack from the back of the room, he had made it to within two feet of the door.

I was then allowed in to help rescue anything that may have survived. This is what I saw, some units had been moved before these pictures were taken but you will still see the full effect.

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LATEST AVAILABLE: Proven 2006 Male Spider

Well, that was a short message....!!!

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This is the ghost by the door, all the white-ish shards are broken glass from a fluorescent light from the ceiling.



We looked through the wooden adult rack first at the front of the room. I pulled 2 normals and a pewter alive and looked ok. 3 other normals were dead. As you can see the inside of the tubs have not escaped the toxic soot.



As we move towards the back of the room we see where the fire started and the only place when any materialistic destruction occurred. The hatchling rack has been completely destroyed on one side. There were five snakes in the top of this rack a pair of het caramels, pastel , spider and the ghost found by the door. Amazingly the ghost made it out of here burnt but alive. All others were found on the floor underneath where they had fallen through the melted tubs.

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LATEST AVAILABLE: Proven 2006 Male Spider

The V35 opposite contained 17 snakes, 4 of which were brought out alive, just. They all came out of the bottom two rows. The snakes higher all perished. Amongst them were het stripes., het pieds, het albino, pastels, cinnamon, normals, mojo, honeybee and a blood python. Here’s what I found..















All in all I lost about 22 snakes and have about 7 recovering including a bee and a mojo. Heres most of the ones I lost.





We pulled about 10 snakes out alive and put them in a tub and using the oxygen bottle from the firefighters equipment tried to revive them. They must have been engulfed in the plastic toxic fumes for at least 20 mins, I think a bit longer, maybe 30. I was surprise and relieved to see any alive at this point. A couple of these died whilst receiving treatment and a number began to look better. They went through two bottles of oxygen and about 40mins extra of the fire services time of which I am truly grateful.






Whilst waiting for the fire service to arrive I also called Scott who didn’t wait around and was here with Marina in about 10 mins.
Scott your help was invaluable and I cant thank you enough.
He is also looking after the survivors and two clutches which we pulled out, which could quite possibly be ok.
The Harlow Fire Service were exceptional, one or two including the boss man I think were a little wary of snakes yet it was their idea we should try to give the survivors the best chance and get some good oxygen into them.
It looks as though a rat had escaped a holding tub during the previous feeding session and had most likely chewed through a cable/thermostat probe and caused the heat cable to go through the roof which in turn melted and eventually ignited the plastic. That’s my theory anyway.
I still haven’t really taken it all in I don’t think and I’m still not sure what I think about it yet but I’m not one to dwell. I’m most likely going to rebuild and start again with what I have left.
Whatever you do when using live, make sure they are all accounted for.

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LATEST AVAILABLE: Proven 2006 Male Spider

soz just saw post
:(
gutted for you mate
:(

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Shirley's Menagerie

My Reptiles4.10.0 Royal Pythons1.0.0 corn snake0.1.0 Eurasier Dog0.1.0 Norwegian Forest Cat0.0.3 fish!

Bllody hell baz....!!!

The most important thing is that your home hasn't burnt down with you in it bud, close escape...!!

Shame about the snakes though, gutted for you for them but, you are alive and the house is intact. Do you know what caused it yet?

PS......The pics aren't showing mate.....

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Try again cobbsie. Pics are showing for me

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LATEST AVAILABLE: Proven 2006 Male Spider

Damn im soo sorry to hear about this happening to you :(

We have a mouse on the loose atm, i think this has made me want to catch the little thing even more so.

Im glad your not giving up though, its an unfortunate tradegy, but you have to devote your attention to the ill and healthy ones you have left.




BTW, pics arent showing for me either.

Wow thats awful! Just glad you are ok and as Jinja said at least your house isn't destroyed.

It's very strong and determined of you to know you will carry on. Lots of people would give up I think if this happened...........

****!!! Really gutted for you Baz..you must be devastated...Was the ghost the only survivor..SAD!!!

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Bruce