A SLEEPING man required treatment for smoke inhalation after an electrical fire broke out in his home.

Newbury fire station were deployed to Dalby Crescent at around 4.30am after receiving reports of a small electrical fire in his kitchen.

The crew had earlier been sent to Priory Road, less than a mile away from the second incident, at 2am to deal with another kitchen fire in a maisonette.

Firefighters used breathing apparatus to extinguish both of the blazes and in both cases working smoke alarms alerted the homeowners so that they could evacuate before suffering serious injuries.

Watch manager Phil Knight from Newbury fire station said: "We were called out to two property fires last night.

"The first was at around 2am and we sent two appliances to Priory Road in Newbury.

"There was a small kitchen fire in a maisonette building. Two breathing apparatus were used to extinguish the fire and ventilate the flat.

"One female resident was in the flat and was awake when she spotted the smoke but she was able to get out before any injuries were sustained.

"The resident was alerted by the smoke alarm and they were able to evacuate before we arrived. We were there for about an hour.

"The second fire was at about 4.30am. Two appliances attended the fire in Dalby Crescent.

"On arrival there was a small electrical fire in a smoke locked building. Crews used two breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire.

"One male occupant received treatment at the scene from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and South Central Ambulance Service for smoke inhalation, but he did not require any further attention.

"In the case of the electrical fire, the male resident was asleep at the time, but they were altered by the smoke alarm."