Pythons, rodents plucked from Lidcombe house fire
Firefighters in western Sydney today found some unusual victims to rescue, five giant pythons and dozens of rats and mice.
The reptiles and rodents were inside a Lidcombe house that caught fire about 12.50pm on Thursday.
Flames burst through the roof of the brick and tile home, but thankfully there was no-one home - at least no-one human.
The householder collects snakes, pythons, plus rats and mice in glass tanks that cracked in the heat.
Firefighters already had a tricky job with the roof collapsing around them, and then they discovered the snakes; two pythons were already outside, with three more inside but on the loose.
The RSPCA and Wires animal rescue were called in and they managed to retrieve the five non-venomous snakes.
The fire crews didn't need much help, apparently snake handling is a part of the job.
Two of the pythons are jungle carpet pythons from North Queensland. They are not deadly but do bite.
Neighbours were amazed to hear of the menagerie.
"We've got a newborn that lives in the house so [we were] quite surprised," local Raymond Anjlur said.
The house was destroyed.
