Dogs die in Leigh Park house fire as mum and two sons taken to hospital after blaze

Fire crews from four stations across the area scrambled to the blaze in Bondfields Crescent at 5.45am this morning.

Firefighters arrived to a large fire tearing through a first floor bedroom of the terraced property.

Three occupants - a woman and her two adult sons - have been taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

A total of 11 dogs were in the house and ‘three or four’ have succumbed to injuries sustained during the fire, according to family friend Aiden Kelly, who rushed into the building to aid the rescue.

Aiden, who lives in a caravan on site, said: ‘I just got out of my caravan and the fire was blazing out the window.

‘I could hear it cracking - it sounded like bibs being dragged down the road.

‘People were running about - my mate had been asleep when it started. I went inside and we helped his mum get out. I could see the light of the fire coming from the bedroom.

‘But the dogs weren’t really barking.’

Most of the family’s pets are rescue dogs and include huskies and Jack Russell breeds, according to Aiden.

The 27-year-old said: ‘I’ve spoken to the family - they are okay, but pretty shaken up.’

The family are aware some dogs have died, he said.

The fire has left the first floor bedroom ‘completely gutted’ and damaged the property’s loft space, according to firefighter Nev Lewendon.

The Havant firefighter said: ‘We still have not determine the cause of the fire.

‘The three occupants were all out of the building when we arrived.

‘We had to rescue a dog from the scene.

‘Some dogs are docile and want help, some don’t - this one was okay and it was compliant.

‘An RSPCA officer has attended the scene to check the welfare of the animals.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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