Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WEST VALLEY CITY — Two pet snakes and two house cats died after a fire that ripped through a West Valley home early Wednesday.
The house suffered heavy damage, but the couple who lives there and most of their numerous pets — including pythons and lizards — were able to escape injury.
Firefighters were called to 7145 W. Kings Estate (4000 South) just before 2 a.m. They arrived to find the garage fully involved and flames spreading to the attic and basement of the house, said West Valley Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Fox. The garage collapsed shortly after crews arrived.
Nate Ballard said some neighbors ran to his house and pounded on the door to alert him to the fire.
"I went upstairs and there was all this smoke in the house," he said. "(A) whole wall was just in flames."
Ballard and his girlfriend retrieved as many pets as they could and escaped into the backyard. There, they discovered they were trapped and had to break through a neighbor's fence to get away from the flames, he said.
The couple kept several pets in their basement: 10 snakes, four lizards, three ferrets, three dogs, plus some rats to feed to the snakes, Ballard said. He added he is devastated by the death of four pets, including one snake that initially survived but was later put down at a veterinarian's office for burn injuries.
"It hasn’t been a good day because of that," Ballard said.
Firefighters helped rescue at least one 12-foot-long python and another that is 10 feet long, Fox said.
A neighbor who walked over to see what was happening and apparently got too close was treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation, according to Fox.
The cause of the fire was still being investigated Wednesday, but it is believed to have started in the garage. Damage was estimated at $80,000, and the house was not livable Wednesday, he said.
Ballard said a friend is taking care of the reptiles until the couple can get back on their feet. He and his girlfriend were ready to move out by Friday and most of their possessions weren't inside the home.
"I’m way grateful that it wasn’t worse," Ballard said, adding he is appreciative of neighbors who provided coats to the couple after they escaped. "It could have been a lot worse."
Contributing: Mike Anderson, Ben Lockhart
