Man accidentally burns down house while trying to get rid of snakes

A man trying to smoke out a snake infestation has burnt his home to the ground, causing about A$1.4 million in damage.

On November 23, a fire broke out at a home in Poolesville, a town about 40 kilometres outside of Washington DC.

The homeowner, who has not been identified, was attempting to use smoke to get rid of a snake infestation in his home.

"Homeowner using smoke to manage snake infestation, it is believed heat source (coals) too close to combustibles," spokesperson for the Montgomery County Fire Department, Pete Piringer said in an update on Twitter.

More than 70 firefighters were called to the scene when the fire broke out at around 10pm on November 23.

The blaze started in the home's basement. Mr Piringer said no one was home when the fire broke out, though the homeowner was there just a few hours earlier, CNN reported.

It was a neighbour who sounded the alarm and called emergency services.

Photos shared to Twitter by Mr Piringer show the home was completely engulfed by the flames and was reduced to rubble by the time it was extinguished.

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Mr Piringer noted on Twitter that no humans were injured in the blaze, but "status of snakes [is] undetermined".

"There are animal services that can come out and make recommendations, or pest control, or an exterminator," Mr Piringer told CNN.

"We recommend you have professionals deal with any pest control issue to help maintain the situation."

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