Reptiles killed in trailer fire

Several reptilian pets were killed in a North Whidbey fire Thursday evening.

A trailer was destroyed and several reptilian pets were killed in a North Whidbey fire Thursday evening.

At 8:45 p.m. on Jan. 19, crews from both North Whidbey Fire and Rescue and NAS Whidbey Fire were dispatched to a structure fire in Whispering Pines, a manufactured home community on Highway 20 north of Oak Harbor.

Responders found an unoccupied single-wide trailer with fire coming from the back half of the home. The cause of the fire is undetermined, but North Whidbey Fire Chief Chris Swiger said it was likely caused by a lizard-warming heat lamp.

The trailer was a total loss. Other than the deceased reptiles, a pet cat remains missing.

A total of 14 firefighters responded to the scene. It took 30 minutes to put out the fire, but crews worked for several hours to fight hot spots that remained.

“Fire gets deep seated into areas and it’s hard to get into these areas to get the hot spots out,” Swiger explained. “You don’t want the fire reigniting after we leave.”

No people were injured.