Arson investigators are working to find the source of a fire that swept through a home and killed several pets.
Miami-Dade firefighters were quickly able to extinguish the flames that torched the single-family home located off Northwest 30th Avenue -- that is, once they were able to get inside.
"We had quite a forcible entry effort to get inside," Miami-Dade fire Capt. Jack Swerdloff said. "You can see that the house is secure like Fort Knox. It had bars on every window and every door."
Swerdloff said there were no visible flames showing from the outside when firefighters first arrived at the house, so it took extra time to locate the fire. That time proved costly for homeowner Theodore Thomas' pets.
"After we made entry into the house, we received reports that the owner probably wasn't home, but there were several animals," Swerdloff said. "The crews were able to remove all the animals. It does appear, though, they all perished."
Among the casualties were seven birds and a snake.
The fire came as a surprise to neighbor Donald Strange, who awoke to the sound of Miami-Dade police officers and firefighters knocking on his front door.
Strange called Thomas, who eventually showed up and learned that his pets had all died.
"I really don't even want to talk about it right now, because I had too much time involved with them," Thomas said. "Just like the family. Just like part of the family."
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