Published: Friday, 16th May, 2008 2:30pm

Three men arrested following house fire

by Alex Gore

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THREE men have been arrested on suspicion of arson following a fire at a terraced house on Wednesday.

All three men were arrested at the scene of the fire in Elgar Road, Katesgrove.

A 22-year-old man was released without charge while a 25-year-old man and 18-year-old man were released on bail to return to Reading and Loddon Valley police stations respectively next month.

Fire crews from Dee Road, Caversham Road and Wokingham Road fire stations fought the blaze after the alarm was raised at around 9.45pm.

They were at the house - which has been converted into flats - until the early hours of the morning before it was declared safe.

Firefighter Jason Schofield said: "When we arrived the fire had really taken hold and was going pretty well.

"It was very very hot and we had to work hard to get the blaze under control and then spend some time checking the house to make sure it was fully extinguished. We didn't get back to the station until about 1am."

The fire is thought to have broken out in a first floor bedroom at the front of house, which was extensively damaged, and the two casualties were taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

Two people were taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation.