(Spencer)– A close call Monday evening in an apartment fire in Spencer.
Firefighters were called around 5:30 pm to 611 East 19th Street and found smoke in the hallway of the building. They determined what apartment the smoke was coming from. No one was in that unit at the time and firefighters forced entry. The smoke was found coming from a bedroom where a heat lamp had fallen into a tank with a tortoise, causing some wood bedding to start smoldering. Firefighters quickly extinguished it and ventilated smoke from the building.
No injuries were reported to the tortoise.
The department says the incident serves as a reminder to use caution when using heat lamps to keep pets or livestock warm. They say it’s important to ensure they are installed in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and that they are securely fastened so they can’t fall over.
