Additional Press: PA:Iguana's cage sparks a school fire

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Posted by Desiree on October 24, 2001 at 00:17:56:

In Reply to: PA Press:Heat lamp causes 2-alarm fire at middle school posted by Desiree on October 23, 2001 at 11:11:26:

10/23/01
Iguana's cage sparks a school fire

The lizard was gone, but still its luck ran out.

By Wendy Ginsberg
INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF

EVESHAM - It was not a good night for the iguana.

The reptile, which had been used to soothe students sent to the vice principal's office, indirectly unleashed a commotion early Sunday when firefighters discovered that its cage had sparked a fire that destroyed the DeMasi Middle School office.

No one was injured, school spokeswoman Jeanne Smith said, and school was held as usual yesterday.

The female lizard, named Nasdaq, was at a veterinarian's office at the time of the fire and coincidentally died of natural causes there Sunday night.

The heat lamps used to keep Nasdaq's cage the proper temperature had been inadvertently left burning for more than 18 hours, Smith said. The Evesham Fire Marshal's Office determined that the lamp caused the blaze.

The fire began shortly after midnight and was under control by 12:40 a.m., Evesham firefighters said. Areas near the vice principal's office had minor smoke and water damage.

Nasdaq, the pet of vice principal Robert Horvath, had stopped eating, prompting Horvath to take her to the vet. Initially, Nasdaq had been improving, Smith said.

Much the way fish have been used to calm patients waiting in a doctor's office, an iguana can soothe students, DeMasi officials had discovered. Since 1993, Horvath has had several different iguanas live in his office.

Smith said school officials would review whether teachers and administrators should be allowed to keep pets in the school.

"They are for purely wonderful purposes," Smith said, "but now all of that will be something that will have to be looked at."

Iguana's cage sparks a school fire

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: 10/23/01 : Iguana's cage sparks a school fire : The lizard was gone, but still its luck ran out. : By Wendy Ginsberg : INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF : EVESHAM - It was not a good night for the iguana. : The reptile, which had been used to soothe students sent to the vice principal's office, indirectly unleashed a commotion early Sunday when firefighters discovered that its cage had sparked a fire that destroyed the DeMasi Middle School office. : No one was injured, school spokeswoman Jeanne Smith said, and school was held as usual yesterday. : The female lizard, named Nasdaq, was at a veterinarian's office at the time of the fire and coincidentally died of natural causes there Sunday night. : The heat lamps used to keep Nasdaq's cage the proper temperature had been inadvertently left burning for more than 18 hours, Smith said. The Evesham Fire Marshal's Office determined that the lamp caused the blaze. : The fire began shortly after midnight and was under control by 12:40 a.m., Evesham firefighters said. Areas near the vice principal's office had minor smoke and water damage. : Nasdaq, the pet of vice principal Robert Horvath, had stopped eating, prompting Horvath to take her to the vet. Initially, Nasdaq had been improving, Smith said. : Much the way fish have been used to calm patients waiting in a doctor's office, an iguana can soothe students, DeMasi officials had discovered. Since 1993, Horvath has had several different iguanas live in his office. : Smith said school officials would review whether teachers and administrators should be allowed to keep pets in the school. : "They are for purely wonderful purposes," Smith said, "but now all of that will be something that will have to be looked at."

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