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22 Pet Birds Die in Rockville Fire

Montgomery County fire officials say nearly two dozen pets died during a house fire in Rockville Tuesday morning. It happened just before 1:30 a.m. in the 500 block of Mannakee Street. Officials say the blaze started in the basement and then spread throughout the home.  Upon arriving on the scene, fire officials noticed the occupants of the home trying to re-enter the house to rescue pets. Firefighters had to pull the residents out of the home. The fire was put out in about 30 minutes. The blaze caused over $400,000 in content and structural damage. Five residents have been displaced due to the fire. Official say 22 of the residents' 23 parakeets, parrots and finches died; one parakeet was found alive.