A chimney fire displaced two and killed some exotic birds at a mobile home in Portage on Thursday night.
Portage Lake Fire Chief Brian Cote described a chaotic scene with multiple exotic birds flying around a smoke-filled house. The fire department was able to snatch some of the animals with a net before transporting them out of the building.
The fire department fought the flames, which had engulfed the attic, for 3.5 hours.
“Everything inside was black,” Cote said.
Cote said the fire seemed to begin in the chimney, potentially from a crack in the liner, before spreading to the attic. The firefighters were required to rip part of the ceiling down to put out the flames.