'Devastating fire' spreads to damage bungalows

The fire started in a garden before spreading to the homes

A fire service said residents were lucky to escape after a "devastating fire" spread from a garden fence to terraced bungalows.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service sent six appliances to the blaze at Harrogate Court, Corby.

People have been urged to avoid the area and close windows and doors due to the smoke.

Police were also at the scene and will be helping the fire service investigate the cause of the blaze.

Station commander Richard Walding said the cause of the fire had not yet been determined

Richard Walding, station commander for the fire service, explained the initial call was to a fire in a garden but while they were en route, crews heard it had spread to the buildings.

Speaking of the residents he said: "They were very lucky to get out.

"As you can see, it was a quite a devastating fire. It's brought some damage to both properties but thankfully no people have been injured at this time."

Mr Walding said it had not yet been determined how the fire started.

Kevan Jones said "flames were right above the house"

Kevan Jones, who has lived on the street for about nine years, said the fire took hold "in a matter of minutes."

He said he first spotted it in some pampas grass near the houses, but when he looked again a moment later, the "flames were right above the house".

He said: "I felt for everybody else... Everyone's OK that I know of, but it's all done and at least it's all right and nobody got hurt, because somebody could have been hurt in there."