Lane, Somerset yesterday.

The blaze ripped through the basement of the building, causing $10,000 worth of damage, but did not spread to the upstairs apartment.

The occupants were able to get out of the house and call the fire brigade when the fire started just after midnight. But they were unable to rescue their pet puppy because of the thick smoke pouring from the blaze. The basement was being used as a storage room and contained mattresses, a motorbike and a pedal bike which were all destroyed.

Four fire engines raced to the house and a team of four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were able to extinguish the fire.