Firefighters found a dog, two cats and six snakes dead Saturday night after making quick work of a North Omaha house fire.
The fire was reported at 10:40 p.m. in the home near 39th and Read Streets, according to a statement from the Omaha Fire Department. No human residents were home at the time, but two giant tortoises and two snakes were found alive and rescued.
The fire was declared under control at 11:06 p.m. The utilities to the home were disconnected, forcing the residents to seek alternate housing.
The single-story house, valued at $155,000, sustained an estimated $100,000 in damage, investigators said. There was approximately $50,000 in damage to the home’s contents.
Red Cross personnel were on scene to help residents with relocation. The cause of the fire is under investigation.