Hundreds Of Snakes Killed In Pennsylvania House Fire
EAST BERLIN, Pa. (AP) -- Authorities say a fire in a Pennsylvania home that killed scores of snakes doesn't appear suspicious in origin.
Officials in York County said the blaze was reported shortly before 5 a.m. Tuesday in the Washington Township home of a snake breeder.
Chief Larry Anderson of the Wellsville Fire Company said the heat and smoke killed three-quarters of the nonvenomous snakes that were kept in cages in the basement.
He told The York Dispatch that the total number of animals was "a three-digit number" but crews "stopped counting after 200-something."
Anderson said smoke detectors alerted the two people inside and they and a dog were able to escape.
He said the fire marshal is expected to issue a cause Wednesday but nothing points to the blaze being suspicious.
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