A BLAZE at a house near Bishop Auckland is not being treated as suspicious.
The occupant - a man said to be aged around 50 years-old - managed to escape the house in Spencer Street, Eldon Lane, just before the fire took hold of the terraced property late on Tuesday night.
He was given first aid treatment by emergency service personnel at the scene before being transported to hospital.
His pet dog, described as a Staffordshire bull terrier or similar breed, died from smoke inhalation.
Emergency services were called just after 11pm and two fire appliances from Bishop Auckland and one from Newton Aycliffe were sent to the scene, along with police and an ambulance.
The fire brigade used one hose reel and a jet to extinguish the flames by 12.16am.
A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said no investigation had been ordered as the incident was being treated as an accident.
Residents of Eldon Lane said the man is thought to have moved to the rented property from the London area.
A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "We heard the woman from the house next door shout fire and went out, first I saw smoke coming out the front window, them the orange light of the flames inside, then the window cracked.
"As soon as the oxygen got in the broken window the flames quickly took over, they got bigger and were coming out the roof.
"I went round the back and saw the man sat outside, he was shaking and in shock."
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