THE OWNER of a house in Basingstoke has thanked her 'hero' neighbour after the property caught on fire.

Jean Fisher, who rents out a property in Freemantle Close, has praised her neighbour Mike Kiltsman after he entered the house during a fire to help the residents inside.

The property caught alight at approximately 10pm on Tuesday, September 17, with police 'still investigating' the cause.

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(Image: Jean Fisher)

"I got a call at about 10pm from the neighbours that my house was on fire, and when I got there, my house was on fire," said Ms Fisher.

She explained that one of the tenants 'unbelievably slept through the fire alarm', adding: "Mike went in there and kicked down all the doors, which are fire doors, not easy to kick down, and then dragged out the guy.

"He ran in and saved everybody. His heroic act, running into a fire, it's very rave and the smoke was very bad. I can't state enough his bravery."

The fire doors in the property contained the blaze in a bedroom, which 'saved the rest of the house'.

Ms Fisher added: "There's nothing salvageable in that room, it's a mess. There's smoke and damage to the rest of the house, but I can replace material, I can't replace people."

Three of the residents living in the property weren't injured, however, one resident suffered burns to his hands, and another was treated for smoke inhalation.

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(Image: Jean Fisher)

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We were called at 10.29pm on Tuesday, September 17 by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) to a report of a fire at an address on Freemantle Close.

"This fire was extinguished by the fire service. A man in his 50s suffered an injury to his hand as a result of the incident.

"Officers are still investigating the cause of the fire and anyone with information is asked to contact 101, quoting 44240400352."

Crews from Basingstoke attended the fire, entering the property in breathing apparatus to 'extinguish the blaze in an upstairs bedroom using a hose reel jet', confirmed a spokesperson for HIWFRS.

They continued: "Ventilation fans were in operation to clear smoke from the premises.

"Two casualties were treated by firefighters and then passed into the care of ambulance paramedics. Crews conducted a number of community safety visits to neighbouring addresses following the stop message.

"A joint police and fire investigation will take place into the cause of the fire."