( CNN ) -- Scatha , a 15-year-old Komodo dragon , and five other reptiles died Monday after smoke from a fire filled an enclosure at the San Antonio Zoo , a spokeswoman for the zoo said . In a written statement , Libby Castillo said two Amazon tree boas , two Solomon Island skinks and a Red Mountain Racer also perished . Almost 100 other animals were saved . `` Everybody 's got , sort of , a lump in their stomach about it , '' zoo director Steve McCusker told CNN affiliate KSAT . `` It 'll affect us , and there will be some really cool stuff off exhibit for a long time that the public wo n't get to enjoy . '' The cause of the fire was unknown , but a heating device may be to blame , the zoo said . Firefighters faced unusual circumstances at the scene , CNN affiliates reported . According to KABB , there were 25 to 45 poisonous snakes in the enclosure . And there was a 22-foot-long , 350-pound reticulated python named Bernice that had to be carried to safety , said KSAT . The zoo said it will take six to eight months to repair the Komodo exhibit . Scatha 's mate , Bubba , was rescued as were 92 other lizards and snakes .
Animals died of smoke inhalation , fire department says . Two boas , two monkeys and a snake from a Rocky Mountain Racer also died . Some poisonous snakes were among the animals killed . Zoo The Komodo dragon exhibit may stay closed for months .