Man, ‘significant’ number of birds and snakes killed in house fire

A man, as well as a “significant” number of birds and snakes, were killed in a house fire in Methuen early Tuesday morning, officials said.

The Methuen Fire Department responded around 2:20 a.m. to 38 Atkinson St. for a report of smoke in the home, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said in a release.

First responders arrived to find heavy fire and smoke, and their entry was blocked by clutter. Firefighters fought the blaze for four hours and also initiated “defensive operations” to protect neighboring homes, officials said.

Three people escaped, but the fourth, an adult man, was found dead inside the home, the department said.

No further information has been released about the man, but Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of his death, th