Exotic Reptiles Rescued From House Fire

Firefighters had to rescue more than just people when a Bridgeville home caught fire Saturday night.

found more than a dozen exotic reptiles, which included snakes and lizards, inside the two-story residence at 182 Liberty St. when they arrived at about 9:20 p.m. to battle the fire.

Bridgeville fire Chief Bill Chilleo said the animals were “decent size” and the firefighters needed help from a wildlife expert after extinguishing the blaze in the home’s rear bedroom. A few of the animals perished in the fire, Chilleo said, but firefighters were able to rescue most of them.

“I can’t even tell you the number we took out there,” Chilleo said. “They were all throughout the house.”

A female resident escaped the fire uninjured and the majority of the damage was contained to the rear of the house, Chilleo said. He added that the borough’s police department is investigating whether the woman was allowed to keep that many exotic animals inside the home.

“I’ve seen stuff like this before, but not to this magnitude,” Chilleo said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, and the Allegheny County Fire Marshal is assisting the fire departments in the investigating. Medics from Southbridge and volunteer firefighters from Fairview, Upper St. Clair and Presto assisted Bridgeville at the scene.