RESIDENTS were evacuated from their homes late last night after a basement fire broke out in a flat off Western Elms Avenue.
All neighbours were safely evacuated but the unit where the blaze broke out suffered heavy fire damage.
The rest of the West Reading block sustained smoke damage but fire crews were able to contain the worst of the flames before they spread.
Firefighters from Caversham Road and Dee Road stations tackled the fire late last night after the alarm was raised shortly before midnight.
Watch manager Steve Trenery, of Dee Road station, said: "All the flats were evacuated and everyone was out safely.
"The basement was ablaze and two firefighters in breathing apparatus went in and dealt with the fire.
"We managed to stop it in the basement flat but the other flats were affected by smoke damage."
The cause of fire is not yet known and is subject to a fire investigation.
Police were not called to attend the incident.
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