Pet Tarantula Perishes In House Fire; Iguana, Snakes, Dog Rescued

WIMAUMA, FL — A pet tarantula perished in a fire that destroyed a Wimauma home Tuesday morning.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded to the scene of a fire early in the 5300 block of Ruth Morris Road and found smoke coming from a window and from under the eaves of a one-story wood-frame and corrugated steel home.

Firefighters said access through the front door was hampered by junk cars, scrap metal and other rubbish surrounding the 1,500-square-foot home so crews began their initial attack on the flames through the window.

The fire was controlled in about 20 minutes. In the process, firefighters were able to rescue a pet iguana and two snakes inside the house, although a tarantula died in the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Firefighters also managed to save a puppy that was trapped in a mobile home that caught fire in a mobile home park on Phillips Lane in Gibsonton Tuesday afternoon.

Crews from Engine 17 and Rescue 12 put out the fire and then treated the puppy, who was the only occupant of the mobile home, for smoke inhalation.