Homeowner In US Accidentally Set His House Ablaze In an Attempt To Get Rid Of Snake Infestation

A homeowner in US' Maryland got more than they bargained for after accidentally setting their house on fire while trying to get rid of snake infestation in the basement.

While using smoke from coals to lure the snakes out of the property, the 10,000 square feet house came down in smoke, resulting in about $1 million in damage to the home, CNN reported.

Twitter/@mcfrsPIO

Pete Piringer, chief spokesperson for the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service explained that the homeowner used coals as a heat source in an effort to smoke the snakes. However, rather unfortunately, they were placed too close to combustibles, sparking the massive fire on November 23.

It was reported that the snakes weren't a new problem at the home, as the previous tenant had also had to deal with them.

The fire started in the basement of the home, and quickly spread through each floor, engulfing the multi-story home, as per WLJA.

ICYMI (~10p Tuesday evening 11/23) 21050 Big Woods Rd, Dickerson, house fire, no injuries, damage/loss >$1M, ~75FFs including mutual aid from Frederick, MD & Loudoun, VA Counties responded https://t.co/3CBFjRs7ZG pic.twitter.com/VkuH9bwvLz

¡ª Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 24, 2021

As many as 75 firefighters from the area responded to the scene. When they arrived, the multi-story home was showing heavy flame and the structure and roof collapsed.

The efforts of the firefighters were also slowed down by the lack of fire hydrants on the property, which has a nearly mile-long driveway and is located about 60 miles east of Baltimore.

Update (11/23 10p) 21000blk Big Woods Rd, Dickerson/Poolesville, @mcfrs Media Hotline Update 240.777.2442 - no injuries, Cause-undetermined/under investigation, >$1M loss, ~75FFs responded, it was dark & cold (~ 25¡ã) https://t.co/6PwIkbRAkf pic.twitter.com/jWlB1HPdKt

¡ª Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 24, 2021

Piringer told Fox 5 that the homeowner was unaware the house was ablaze after he set up the burning coals in the basement.

"Whatever process was being used, and there was a number of them, they believe a number of platforms - metal buckets, containers of various kinds used throughout, creating the smoke," he said.

"And they believe some of that, again, combustibles, in this case, may have been a wall or some other combustible material, too close to the heat source."

Fortunately, there were no injuries reported.

The status of the snakes is unknown, but as the home was left in rubble, it's assumed they no longer live there.

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