Firefighters Rescue Exotica From Queens Apartment Blaze

Two cobras, an alligator, and several tarantulas and black widow spiders died of smoke inhalation yesterday during a fire at a basement apartment in Queens, fire officials said.

However, the fire was put out rapidly enough to save the lives of a 12-foot Burmese python and a baby alligator, officials said.

A 14-year veteran firefighter, Lieutenant Ed Ireland, was the first to enter the basement apartment after the fire was put out at about 11:30 a.m. "It felt like science fiction," he said.

Lieutenant Ireland switched on his flashlight and, while scanning the room, noticed the python slithering next to his leg. He said it was the width of a human thigh.

As firefighters flooded the room with light, they found multiple cages filled with a variety of reptiles, including turtles, and frogs, that survived the fire, officials said.

Emergency service units were called to the scene and removed the python using a neck snare, Lieutenant Ireland said.

The surviving python and baby alligator were taken to a T-shirt shop and animal rehabilitation center in the East Village, Social Tees. Once healthy, the owner of the store, Robert Shapiro, will find them a new home, likely in Florida.

It is unclear who was the owner of the animals, but the investigation is ongoing, officials said.