FIVE family pets died of smoke inhalation following a house fire.
A Jack Russell terrier, three cats and a hamster were overcome when the blaze broke out at a house in Greenwood Close, in Wheatley Hill, east Durham, yesterday.
Firefighters were called to the house just before noon and found the kitchen alight.
Divisional Officer Ian Dockerty said: "It appears some clothing had fallen behind the fridge freezer and come into contact with the compressor.
"It became hot and set fire to the clothing and the wood cladding behind."
The kitchen was already severely damaged by the flames by the time the firefighters arrived.
The animals' owners, who were not in the house at the time, had left doors open for the animals and smoke spread through the house.
DO Dockerty said: "This is a very sad case, but if smoke alarms had been fitted in the house they might have alerted someone outside and the animals could have been saved."
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