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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Fire crews rescue iguana from eastern Oregon house fire

In this Friday, March 10, 2017, photo, Pendleton firefighter/paramedics Craig Murstig, left, and Marc Proctor give first-aid oxygen to an iguana rescued from a burning house on Southwest Goodwin Avenue in Pendleton, Ore. Although the home was damaged, the family – and their 20-pound iguana – were not hurt. (Kathy Aney / AP)
Associated Press

PENDLETON, Ore. – Fire crews slipped an oxygen mask over the face of a 20-pound iguana after rescuing the creature from a house fire in Oregon.

Pendleton Fire Department Assistant Chief Shawn Penninger said that only an adult human and the reptile were home at the time of the fire on Friday afternoon, the East Oregonian reported. The person was unharmed.

Penninger said crews removed the iguana from the heavily damaged home and gave it oxygen. The fire department on Saturday said they didn’t know the iguana’s name.

Investigators said a preliminary investigation showed the cause of the fire to be improperly disposed smoking material.

An estimate of damages to the home – where a family of three lives – also wasn’t available.