By Heather Collins
The Carmel Fire Dept. rescued what firefighter Scott Woodburn described as “a prehistoric beast” at 8:20 p.m. July 23.
A neighbor called 911 to report smoke coming from a home near 136th Street and Towne Road. Firefighters arrived within minutes and found smoke and fire billowing from the back bedroom window. Lt. Michael McNeely said firefighters were inside within two minutes to begin extinguishing the flames and search for victims or pets. The family was not home at the time, but a neighbor reported that the family had two pets.
“We actually came across a very large cage for the iguana,” McNeely said. “Initially, he didn’t look too happy to see us.”
The second pet, a cat, was found hiding in the master bedroom. Firefighters rescued the cat and administered oxygen. A fish tank also was found in the house, but McNeely said fish seem to do all right during house fires.
McNeely reported that the fire started because of an electrical issue. He said the door to the downstairs bedroom was closed, which helped to compartmentalize the fire. Had the door been open, he said the fire would have likely spread beyond the bedroom and fully engulfed the upstairs.
“A huge thing that saved this house and saved the pets was the fact that they had their doors closed,” McNeely said.
McNeely said pet rescue is a common occurrence for CFD, and they routinely rescue cats and dogs.
An iguana rescue, however, does not happen often.
Firefighters Scott Woodburn and Justin Cox were tasked with the rescue of what Woodburn initially joked was a “1,000 pound, 14-foot-long prehistoric beast.” They found the iguana in its cage with its eyes closed.
“We went in with our gear on, very brave, ready to save the day,” Woodburn said. “Suddenly, all the courage left our bodies as we looked at this prehistoric beast.”
Woodburn and Cox weren’t sure how to approach the iguana. Woodburn said they tried to throw a blanket over its head, but their initial attempt failed, leaving only the head exposed.
Woodburn said when he gathered up the courage to approach the iguana, it quickly crawled up the wall of its tank, cocked his head and shifted his “crazy lizard eye” toward Woodburn. Woodburn said he asked the iguana to remain calm as he prepared to grab him.
“He’s fighting for his life. I’m scared for my life,” Woodburn said.
Woodburn, equipped with gloves, a blanket and a flashlight, said once he got hold of the iguana, its tail began whipping around in the dark, smoky room. Woodburn said at that moment he recalled advice from a nature show that said if you hold a lizard underneath its body, the lizard will calm down.
“I just scooped him up like a baby, and as soon as I did he turned into the ugliest baby I’ve ever seen,” Woodburn said. “It truly was a battle. I felt like I was in Jurassic Park.”
Woodburn estimated the iguana weighed 10 pounds and was roughly 4 feet long.
Don’t go back in
CFD keeps oxygen masks and first aid supplies on-hand to assist pets affected by house fires or dangerous situations. CFD Lt. Michael McNeely encourages homeowners not to go back inside a building to save a pet during a house fire.
“Never, ever, ever go back in to get a pet. That’s our job. We’ll do it,” McNeely said. “We treat pets like they are people, and we will definitely go in and search and do what we can do to save a pet, because we know they’re as important as family.”
