Another subtle variation of R_AK47's fire safety concern previously posted



SALFORD ADVERTISER (UK) 06 January 06 Monty makes a great escape (Ailsa Cranna)

Photo at URL: Exotic pet collector Steve Robinson rescued Monty from a blaze after firemen were reluctant to move him.

Living up to the reputation of his Second World War namesake, Monty the lizard showed courage under fire during a great escape in Higher Broughton in the early hours of Tuesday.

The Bosc monitor lizard, named after the hero of El Alamein, refused to budge after an electric heat pad set fire to a layer of ground coconut shells in his tank.

Broughton firemen were reluctant to move him and he was eventually rescued by his owner, exotic pet collector Steve Robinson, who explained: "Monty was still lying in his tank lying next to the burning heat mat when I got him out.

"I had to reach him because I warned the firemen he does bite. Monty is normally used to desert heat and during the day his tank has to be kept at 90 degrees Fahrenheit all the year round and at night the temperature can drop to 75 degrees."

Steve and his partner Emma share their home in Manley Street, Higher Broughton with 27 exotic animals – as well as Monty, they own Bruce, a three-foot-long green iguana, and a collection of tarantulas, scorpions and snakes.

The fire in Monty’s vivarium broke out just after 2.30am.

Steve, 26, said: "I smelled smoke and at first thought it was a fire in the street.

"My partner Emma and I got up and when I opened the door of the back bedroom where Monty and some of the other animals are kept, it was full of smoke.

"I couldn’t see my hand in front of me and couldn’t breathe properly. Very quickly the entire upstairs was full of smoke."

All the animals were rescued and suffered no ill-effects from the smoke, although Steve required treatment at the scene for smoke inhalation.
Monty makes a great escape

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