A PET cat died in a house fire in Thatcham last night after an unattended candle in an upstairs bedroom set a pair of curtains ablaze.
Fire fighters from Newbury rushed to the incident in Marsh Road at 10pm after the people at home attempted to tackle the blaze out themselves.
Watch manager Bob Mitchell said: "When we got to the house, the flames were coming out of the window.
"The upper floor was gutted and the rest of the house was smoke damaged.
He confirmed that the three people at home, believed to be a brother and sister and friend in their 20s, were all treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.
He said: "We used four breathing apparatuses and two house reels to put the fire out but sadly the family's pet cat died.
"We stress that candles should be properly secured in their holders and not left near combustible things like curtains or unattended and that people check that their smoke alarms work as it gives an early warning."
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