$1.8M House Burned Down As Owner Fights Snake Infestation

DICKERSON, MD — A homeowner on Big Woods Road accidentally burned down his house on Nov. 23 as he tried to use smoke to manage a snake infestation, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Spokesman Pete Piringer said.

No one was home, Piringer said, and a neighbor noticed the flames and called 911. About 75 firefighters responded to the call.

Piringer said they think that hot coals in the basement were too close to flammable materials, and started the fire. There were no human injuries and the status of the snakes is unknown, according to Piringer.

The estimated damage of the home is more than $1 million.

Housing records showed the home was valued at $1.8 million before the blaze, CNN reported.

"I’m not a wildlife expert but at the time of the fire some firefighters did see some snake skins while others found one coming out of the foundation," Piringer said in a text message to NBC News.

Firefighters moved the snake that emerged from the burned-down home and "were able to retrieve it and move it safely to a different environment," Piringer said.

According to The Washington Post, an earlier tenant in the home had tried the same technique and had no success. When the owner of the home moved back in, he tried to do it too.

"There are animal services that can come out and make recommendations, or pest control, or an exterminator," Piringer told CNN. "We recommend you have professionals deal with any pest control issue to help maintain the situation."