Up to 11 cats and a parrot died in a 'horror' fire. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service also said a dog, a further three cats and a budgie were rescued after crews were called to a house fire in Highbury Road, Highbury Vale, on Sunday (August 7).
The fire was in the front of the property and spread to the front room on the ground floor. No members of the public were injured and officials isolated gas supplies. "Sadly 11 cats and a parrot died despite the efforts of crews on scene to save them," the fire service said.
Pets were given oxygen masks. Neighbours described the 'horror' fire as a tragedy that was close to home. Aiden Niblett, 30, who lives nearby and works as a manager at Mobile Lab Bulwell, said: "It is one of those things that is just a horror.
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"I have two kids and it's terrible to think this could happen to anyone's home. I saw a couple of fire engines but I always assume it is going elsewhere. It is scary to think about it; I only live down the road. It's tragic that their pets died. I love animals, and losing them is losing a member of the family."
The incident was reported to the fire service at 6.25pm. Firefighters had to access the home by breaking a front window and a cordon was set up. Eunice Benneh, 31, full-time mum who lives in Bulwell, saw the cordon on her way home on Sunday.
"It's lucky really because the other houses are so close," Ms Benneh said. All I noticed was the fire engines and police cars. I was coming home and had to go around the cordon. I'm glad everyone is OK, what happened to the pets is awful. It's the last thing anyone would want to happen to their home."
A Bulwell resident, who did not want to be named, added: "It looks like there was some serious damage to the front [of the house]. It must be a nightmare for the people that live there. It's good no-one seems hurt but I'm sure they'll be heartbroken about their pets."
Four fire engines attended the incident from the Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Stockhill and West Bridgford stations. Crews inspected the incident again at 3.22am on Monday, August 8.
A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Crews had to access [the house] through the front room window due to a high fire. The gas and electric company/board attended and worked to isolate the supplies. There were no people injured in this fire. A dog and a budgie were rescued but sadly a parrot and a number of cats died."
Elsewhere, crews were also called to a large grass fire in Bulwell on Sunday. The incident in Hoewood Road involved 9,000 square metres of grass. Neighbours described seeing "a massive ball of fire".
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