Fire Damages Reptile House At Plumpton Park Zoo: Officials

RISING SUN, MD — After a fire tore through the Reptile House at the Plumpton Park Zoo over the weekend, the zoo was temporarily closed. Now the zoo is raising funds to rebuild the structure that houses its alligator, snakes and other creatures.

An employee found the fire at 8:04 a.m. Saturday in the 1400 block of Telegraph Road, according to investigators. Zookeeper Michelle Thompson notified authorities, the zoo reported.

Six animals died in the blaze — four birds and two snakes — officials said.

"We lost 6 animals in a fire yesterday in our reptile house," zoo officials reported Sunday, adding: "BUT the GOOD NEWS is we saved 8 animals thanks to the efforts of staff and first responders."

A member of the maintenance team, Bill Winer, used fire extinguishers to extinguish the flames, zoo officials said.

"If the staff was not so close by and noticed the fire so early on, all of the animals and the building would have been lost," the Plumpton Park Zoo reported. "The smoke is what was deadly. There was so much smoke staff could not safely enter." Within minutes, zoo authorities said firefighters arrived.

About 25 firefighters from the Community Fire Company of Rising Sun brought the blaze under control within 20 minutes.

Zoo officials said maintenance staffer Mike Leone removed the larger snakes and alligator from the Reptile House after he was provided with a respirator. Rising Sun firefighters also provided oxygen for the surviving animals, authorities said, and veterinarians from Muddy Creek Animal Hospital cared for the survivors.

The fire marshal deemed the fire accidental, due to an "unspecified electrical event" in the Reptile House that resulted in $150,000 in damage.

A reptile heat lamp fixture or cord was believed to be the origin of the fire, the Plumpton Park Zoo reported, stating: "We will not be using those fixtures ever again." Zoo personnel also stated they would be seeking input from the fire marshal and other experts going forward "to avoid this from happening ever again."

The Plumpton Park Zoo, which is a nonprofit organization, has set up an online fundraiser to rebuild the Reptile House. In addition, Granite Tap Room in Port Deposit is collecting donations at its bar through the end of August for the zoo.

"We have lost some of our favorites," Plumpton Park Zoo posted on its Facebook page. "Keep us in your thoughts."