An escaped snake in a science classroom in Bedford County, Virginia, set off a late-night chain of events when it knocked over a heat lamp, sparked a fire, and left firefighters dealing with smoke, eight damaged classrooms, and a needed reptile rescue.
Here's what to know
According to WSET, emergency crews were dispatched to Forest Middle School at 12:47 a.m. on Aug. 13. The first responders came from Lynchburg, Bedford County, and included the Virginia State Police.
The Bedford County Fire Marshal's Office later said, per WSET, that the fire began when a snake knocked over a heat lamp. Coleman added that the other animals in the classroom were unharmed.
Forest Fire Department Chief Monty Coleman said the blaze started in a second-floor science classroom. Before firefighters entered, the sprinkler system had already gone off, and smoke had spread through much of the building, according to WSET.
Another problem appeared when crews reached the room. Coleman explained, "There was an 8-foot snake in at the door waiting for us," mentioning that firefighters were surprised after finding the snake directly in front of them, before pushing it back and continuing to fight the fire. They later secured the animal.
He also described smoke as one of the biggest obstacles, saying, "Smoke became the enemy for us because we had smoke throughout two wings of the school and the first floor, so ventilation and smoke removal was somewhat of a challenge," according to WSET.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
The Forest Fire Department shared video of the snake and the emergency response, and WCVB 5 shared some of the footage on Instagram.
More background
While this case involved a classroom animal rather than a wildlife attack, BBC reporting has shown that human-controlled environments can lead to risky animal encounters.
When animals are confined, stressed, or placed near heat sources and barriers, the effects can ripple outward, affecting entire communities. Thankfully, in this instance, no one was harmed.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
