Firefighters trying to save a burning home walked into something they say they have never seen before, a garage full of dozens of snakes, many of them venomous. There was nothing firefighters could do to save the snakes and the family not only lost their pets, but also their home on Silver Leaf Circle in James Island.
Firefighters say the fire started in the garage around the breaker box. And they were shocked to go into that garage and find 50-80 venomous snakes.
James Island Fire Chief Chris Seabolt says, “It is shocking. It is definitely one for the books for us. It’s not something we normally run across. But luckily everyone was safe and once we found the potential of venomous snakes in there, we were careful to make sure we didn’t get anybody injured.”
When the fire first started, two people were inside, a mother and her newborn baby. They made it out safely. She called her husband to come home home and he was able to rescue the two dogs. However, because none of the firefighters could safely handle the venomous snakes, all but one died in the fire.