A YOUNG mum-of-two was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in her Basingstoke home.

The woman, 25, of Whistler Close, Black Dam, escaped the property before the fire brigade arrived on the scene, after discovering the fire on May 11.

She was given oxygen by fire officers and taken to Basingstoke hospital in an ambulance. She was allowed to leave a few hours later.

Her children, aged six and two, were staying elsewhere.

The fire, which took hold at about 9pm, is believed to have been started by a candle in the woman's bedroom and was quickly put out by the fire brigade.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: "I was downstairs when the alarm went off and it was really scary.

"When I phoned the fire brigade, they told me to try and shut the door so the fire would not spread, but I could not even get up the stairs for smoke.

"I am really glad the children were not in the house when it happened. It would have been even worse.

"I would like to thank the fire brigade. They were amazing, especially the officer who gave me oxygen. They even went back in to get my cat."

Two pumps and a special equipment unit from Basingstoke fire station attended the scene along with a rapid-response vehicle and an ambulance from Hampshire Ambulance service.

First published: Wednesday, May 18, 2005