A HOUSE at Sticklepath was extensively damaged when a fire broke out on Monday evening.

Two fire crews from Okehampton and one from Chagford attended the scene and on arrival found a mid-terraced property well alight.

Crews used six sets of breathing apparatus, a jet and hose reel to extinguish the electrical fire which started in the kitchen.

The blaze, which occurred just after 8pm, left 80% of the ground floor damaged by fire and smoke and 90% of the first floor damaged by smoke.

Okehampton station officer Ian Donovan said initially, there were reports of a person in the building, but this turned out not to be the case.

The occupant had escaped without injury after being alerted by the smoke alarm, but his dog suffered slight burning to its back.

Firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to the other properties.

Mr Donovan said the fire started at the electricity distribution board but intensified when the outside mains electricity cable caught fire.

'It impeded access to the fire and Western Power were called out to do some repair work which meant that some people in the village were without electricity for a short period of time,' he said.

Police also had to control the traffic while water was pumped from the village hydrant.

The fire officer added that this was a good example of why people should have a smoke alarm as the occupant, who was in the lounge at the time, was alerted to a problem in the kitchen.

'I would also like to stress how important it is to maintain your smoke detectors and replace batteries as and when necessary,' he said.