JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A family of five made it out of a devastating house fire alive in Arlington Thursday morning, but 43 snakes the family owned did not survive.
Savenn Chhouk lives in the home with his parents and he said he breeds snakes for a living and last year began collecting ball pythons.
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On Thursday morning only two his 45 snakes survived.
Chhouk’s uncle Jeff Fernandez says he was asleep on the couch when he woke up to smoke and got the rest of the family - including an 8-month-old out of the house.
PHOTOS: Jacksonville family loses home and 43 pet snakes, 3 ferrets in morning fire
“I smelled smoke, went to the kitchen and I saw the whole ceiling was full of smoke throughout the house, so I went and woke up my brother, my sister in law and we all ran out of the house,” said Fernandez.
JFRD’s fire chief told Action News Jax the neighborhood along Caribbean Drive doesn't have any fire hydrants, making it difficult for crews to put out a fire.
The street was filled with fire engines as they called in tankers of water and were able to put out this fire around 4 a.m.
The state fire marshal is on scene working to determine what started a house fire on Caribbean Dr. @WOKVNews @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/LyGTRA03Mx
— Alicia Tarancon (@AliciaANJax) March 21, 2019
Meanwhile, the Red Cross is helping the family and even though won’t be able to return to their home.Chhouk’s father Jerry Fernandez tells us he’s thankful everyone was able to get out on time and that his brother was there.
“He’s the hero, he’s the hero, I’m the older but this is the best younger brother and the only one I need right now. I feel really blessed,” said Jerry Fernandez.
Here’s a closer look at the damage on the side of that home. The homeowner’s son telling me he had 45 snakes inside the house as well as 3 ferrets that didn’t make it out @WOKVNews @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/pi0MrEUy0O
— Alicia Tarancon (@AliciaANJax) March 21, 2019
Chhouk says breeding snakes are his passion and he’s been interested in them since he was 15 years old.
He says once his family gets back on his feet he’ll go back to doing what he loves most – breeding snakes.
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