Central Pennsylvania fire kills well over 200 nonvenomous snakes

Published January 08, 2015

Authorities say an early morning fire in a central 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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