Blazes at town centre pub and Newbury flats overnight

FIRE crews in Newbury had a busy overnight shift after being called to tackle two serious fires in the town.
At around 7pm yesterday (Saturday) crews from Newbury Fire Station were mobilised to a flat fire in Doveton Way, however a further four crews from Reading stations were called soonafter to assist.
Three people were rescued from the building, one of whom was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation by the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS).
The fire was in a ground floor flat which had escalated to the back of the building. It took around two hours to extinguish the fire, and crews returned to the scene at 1am - after scheduled industrial action which ran from 11pm to 1am - to ensure the building was still safe. They will return again today.
It is thought to have started in the lounge area, however the cause is as yet unconfirmed. Fire investigation teams will revisit the property today (Sunday).
An air ambulance was sent to the scene shortly after 7pm, along with an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle.
At around 4am, Newbury crews were then alerted to a fire to the rear of The Newbury pub in Bartholomew Street by police.
Two crews from Newbury tackled the fire which was caused by the outside meat smoker overheating.
The pub was closed at the time, and no-one was injured. The pub is open as usual today (Sunday).

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will stage a further strike between 5pm and 7pm today. It is the seventh consecutive day that industrial action has been held by the FBU in a dispute with central Goverment over changes to their pension scheme.
The final strikes will be held tomorrow between 6am and 8am and 5pm and 7pm.