A man accidentally burned down his house while trying to get rid of snakes.
The house holder, who has not been named, was trying to use smoke to tackle a snake infestation in his home.
Firefighters reported a blaze had broken out at house in Poolseville, 25 miles outside Washington DC.
Pete Piringer, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire Department, said on Twitter : "Homeowner using smoke to manage snake infestation, it is believed heat source (coals) too close to combustibles,"
Reports say more than 70 firefighters were called to the location after fire broke out at around 10pm on November 23.
The fire is thought to have started in the house's basement and is estimated to have caused around $1 million (£750,000) in damage.
Mr Piringer said no one was at home when the fire started, but the homeowner was there a few hours earlier, according to reports on CNN.
Emergency services were called after a concerned neighbour raised the alarm.
Photos shared on social networking site Twitter by Mr Piringer show the home was completely engulfed by the flames and was reduced to rubble by the time it was extinguished.
The fire spread from the basement and consumed the home, officials say and images show flames coming from the roof and second-story windows.
Mr Piringer said on Twitter the condition of the reptiles was not known.
He said no humans were injured in the blaze, but "status of snakes [is] undetermined".
The fire department’s public information officer revealed more details and described the cause as “accidental” and the reason was given as the “homeowner using smoke to manage snake infestation”.
Authorities say the heat source for ridding the home of reptiles was coals, which were “too close to combustibles”.
The fire originated in the “basement, walls/floor” of the property.
Mr Piringer told CNN : "There are animal services that can come out and make recommendations, or pest control, or an exterminator.
"We recommend you have professionals deal with any pest control issue to help maintain the situation."
