BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. --
David Stanifer was inside a home on Friars Court (see map) in Brevard County when a fire started early Monday morning. He and two other people were chasing a rat around the house.
"They told us they were playing with their pet mouse or rat and they tied a ribbon to it and they were cutting a ribbon with the lighter," said Lieutenant Teresa Uzel of the Brevard County Fire Rescue.
Firefighters said that the three residents tried to cut the ribbon, but it caught fire. The rat started to run all around the garage, starting small fires.
"This is a first time. It's a believable story because things happen, but this is a first with a rat," Uzel said.
The residents tried putting the fire out, but were unsuccessful. More than a dozen firefighters responded to help fight the blaze.
"This is my parent's house. My dad's not here right now, he's in Africa on a mission trip and my mom works most of the time. We can't get a hold of her," said resident David Stanifer.
Fire investigators said the damage to the home will cost nearly $30,000 to repair.
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