ORLANDO SENTINEL (Florida) 23 November 05 Iguana's heat lamp sparks fire at apartments (Henry Pierson Curtis)
A heat lamp left on to keep an iguana warm ignited a blaze this morning that left at least six Orlando residents homeless.
The two-alarm fire near the intersection of Conroy and Vineland roads broke out about 9:35 a.m. when a blanket covering the reptile's aquarium burst into flames, said Orlando Assistant Fire Chief Greg Hoggatt.
The fire burned through a porch ceiling into the attic of a block of 16 apartments on Holly Branch Drive. The fire spread into three of the apartments below, causing moderate to serious damage.
"People need to be extremely cautious with heat lamps, space heaters and fireplaces at this time of year," Hoggatt said.
Tuesday night's cold snap with lows in the 50s was the first time many Central Floridians had used heaters since last winter. This is when fire departments frequently see an increase in fires started by faulty heaters.
No one was hurt in the fire at Oakwood Apartments, which required more than 40 firefighters to extinguish. Firefighters searching the burning apartments for victims rescued several pets.
The iguana did not survive.
Iguana's heat lamp sparks fire at apartments