TWO people were taken to hospital after a house fire broke out in Blackburn today.

The fire happened at a property in Hancock Street, at around 7.40am.

Fire crews had to rescue the pair and a dog from the building.

Firefighters used two jets and a ventilation unit to put out the fire which started in the ground floor front room of the house.

The fire caused smoke damage to the house with the windows of it left blackened.

Blackburn fire station crew manager Alistair Cameron said: “Two people were taken to hospital.

“The fire started in a ground floor front room of the house.

“There had been lots of flames and smoke coming from there.

“The whole house was smoke-logged.”

Resident Andrew Donnelly, who lives nearby, said his two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Kyro was rescued from the fire.

He said: “The fire service had brought her out and I thought she was dead but she’s on the mend now.

“I’m just so relieved and hopefully everyone is okay.”

The fire service service are treating the fire as a suspected arson.

A fire service spokesman said: “Three fire engines from Blackburn and Darwen attended a domestic property fire on Hancock Street in Blackburn.

“Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus rescued two people and a dog from the building, and used two jets and a ventilation unit to extinguish the fire.

“The casualties were taken to hospital by ambulance.”

The spokesman added: “The fire is believed to be of suspicious origin and a joint investigation into the cause is underway with the police.”