Free safety checks after fire in house

Fire crews were called to a three-storey home in Somerset Road where they found the lower two floors were well alight after flames had swept through the building.

Initially there were concerns that someone might be trapped inside, but a search by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus confirmed that the house was empty.

There was severe damage throughout the property, especially to the first floor and to the converted roof space, as well as extensive smoke damage.

The cause of the fire, which happened just after midday yesterday, is being investigated.

Pete Townsend, station commander of Westlea and Stratton, said: "The owner of the house is heartbroken. She was in the process of selling her house and was about to exchange contracts."

Mary Reynolds, 57, lives next to the fire-damaged house and her own home had been severely smoke logged. Firefighters had managed to prevent the fire from spreading to her property.

She said: "I am shocked. I don't know the extent of the damage because it is still full of thick smoke and they told me to come out here."

Swindon fire crews will visit houses in Somerset Road and neighbouring areas to carry out a 'hot strike' - checking smoke detectors and exit ways as well as giving advice to prevent further fires.

Station commander Townsend said: "We don't know the cause of the fire yet so we have called in fire investigators who will sift through the building.

"The back door was open so we initially believed someone was still in the building. That's why there are so many appliances here. In fact a neighbour had broken into the back door to rescue a dog and a pet lizard.

"We believe the fire started in the front bedroom which belongs to the teenage son but he had vacated the premises before it started."

A total of four pumping appliances attended the scene where crews brought the fire under control in forty minutes using two hose reel jets and giant fans to reduce smoke damage.