Firefighters Nab PETA Award for Saving Snakes From House Fire

A Dozen Reptiles Removed From Smoke-Filled Home

For Immediate Release:
December 19, 2018

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

A Compassionate Fire Department Award is on its way from PETA to Caney Creek Fire & Rescue, which responded to a house fire in Conroe on the morning of December 8 and discovered that, although no human residents were home, a dozen snakes were upstairs inside glass enclosures. After putting out the fire, firefighters carried the snakes out of the smoke-filled house, and the animals were later reunited with their relieved guardians. “[A]s firefighters, we will do anything to help anybody,” said Fire Chief Raymond Flannelly.

“These compassionate firefighters didn’t hesitate to step in and save these snakes from a deadly predicament,” says PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “PETA hopes their kindness will inspire people everywhere to act when animals are in need—whether those animals have fur, fins, feathers, or scales.”

Two dogs also escaped the fire unharmed, but an unknown number of lizards died from the heavy smoke. PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—reminds all animal guardians to have an emergency plan for their animal companions, including having carriers ready to grab in case of fires or other emergencies. Families are encouraged to watch PETA’s fire-safety video and post signs on their doors or windows in order to alert rescue workers to the presence of dogs, cats, and other animal companions in the home. Guardians can order stickers from the PETA Catalog or make their own.

The fire department will receive a package of PETA’s fire-alert stickers, a framed certificate, an award letter, a box of delicious vegan cookies, and a copy of The Engine 2 Diet—a Texas firefighter’s 28-day plan for staying in prime firefighting shape by eating vegan meals.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.