STUDENTS had to be evacuated from their home after an electric blanket which had been left unattended sent a bed up in flames.
The male international student had switched on the device before heading out to the library.
As the other residents noticed smoke billowing into the house the alarm raised and fire crews rushed to the scene at around 8pm last night.
Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the home on Basingstoke Road and doused the blaze in the first floor bedroom.
The bed was destroyed but the damage did not spread beyond the room and neighbouring homes in the terraced row were unaffected.
Crew manager Mark Brownsmith, of Whitley Wood fire station, said: "The students evacuated out and it was quite a thick nasty smoke.
"If winter is getting colder and people are starting to use an electric blanket be mindful of safety."
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