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Nov. 08--A pet parrot is safe with its owner after Broward firefighters rescued the bird from a burning home.
As firefighters brought out Babe the parrot in his cage from the smoke-filled Lauderdale Lakes home, the owner sighed with relief.
The bright tangerine conure parrot has been part of the family since birth two years ago.
"He was very happy and relieved to see his bird," said Mike Jachles, public information officer for Broward Sherriff Fire Rescue. "He's had the parrot since it was a baby; he was attached to it. People cherish their pets."
Babe was saved by Broward Sherriff Fire Rescue late Monday afternoon after the agency responded to a call in the 300 block of Northwest 50th Avenue. The owner of the home called to report his car in flames.
"The man was asleep and was awakened by two blasts. He woke up to his car and house on fire," Jachles said. "He said he quickly ran out."
Jachles would not identify the man.
The small single-story family home, with an attached carport, is estimated to have $30,000 to $50,000 in damage, not including the man's totaled white pickup truck, fire officials say.
Firefighters extinguished the vehicle fire and entered the house to knock down the interior fire. According to Jachles, firefighters also encountered a running fuel fire underneath the pickup truck.
They were able to contain it from going on to the neighboring properties.
The fire victim was temporarily relocated by the American Red Cross.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation by the Broward Sheriff Fire Marshal's Bureau and the State Fire Marshals Office.
