Homeowner tries to smoke out snakes, burns down house

The remains of a home that was heavily damaged by fire after the homeowner attempted to use smoke to purge snakes from the house. Photo / AP/Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service

A Maryland home was accidentally burned to the ground by an owner trying to get rid of a snake infestation, officials said.

The homeowner in Poolesville, a town about 40km outside of Washington DC, in the United States, was attempting to use smoke to purge the snakes from the house, according to Montgomery County Fire Department officials.

The home on fire after the homeowner attempted to use smoke to purge snakes from the house. Photo / AP/Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service

In the process, the homeowner caught the house on fire, causing about US$1 million ($1.48m) in damage, the Washington Post reported.

The fire broke out around 10pm on November 23, officials said.

Snakes 1, Million Dollar Home 0https://t.co/xhJNC4k8g5

— MacArthur For Baltimore (@BaltoSpectator) December 4, 2021

I mean, this would probably be my response as well https://t.co/Nr0uM8rZfF

— andi zeisler (@andizeisler) December 3, 2021

Pete Piringer, a spokesman for the county fire department, said on Twitter that 75 firefighters were called to put out the blaze that started in the basement.

Piringer said the fire, caused by placing coals too close to combustible material, was accidental and no people were hurt. But he said the well-being of the snakes is "undetermined".