Tort starts fire

[KarenSoCal]

This is why we warn about making sure keepers do not rely on clamps, and make sure to firmly secure any heat source!

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-50915895

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Secure your clamp lamps, people.
The clamps WILL fail.

 

[VegasJeff]

Dang! That’s crazy!

 

[NorCal tortoise guy]

In my early days of tortoise keeping I had a lamp fall and burn the tortoise house it was in to the ground. Luckily the tortoises went out side and were safe. It was an out side tortoise house not in my house though it was close by the house so the fire department did some damage making sure the fire had not made it to the house. It was a wake up call!! Now I make sure all laps are secured and all lamps are sized right for the bulbs! This is serious business and is necessary to protect our tortoises and our families.

 

[Yvonne G]

Quite a few years ago I went outside to feed, water, etc. the tortoises and when I opened the lid on one of the cinderblock enclosures on the car port I found the light sitting on the floor of the enclosure. It fell straight down. When I picked it up, the substrate was black and smoking. I don't know how much longer it would have smoldered before it caught fire, but thank goodness I found it when I did.