More than 25 firefighters were called to a bungalow fire in Godmanchester last night in which a man was injured and two cats died.

A senior firefighter has warned of the danger of storing large volumes of paper and waste materials after a huge fire in Godmanchester.

More than 25 firefighters were called to a bungalow fire in Comben Drive last night in which a man was injured and two cats died.

The alarm was raised at 8.57pm yesterday (Tuesday) and crews from Huntingdon and Gamlingay were sent.

They found smoke coming from the property and called in reinforcements from Huntingdon, Sawtry and Ramsey.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire involved “heavy loading of materials” which had to be cleared to get to the seat of the fire.

Eight firefighters wearing oxygen masks fought the blaze, which took more than four-and-a-half hours to bring under control.

A man was taken to hospital with burns to his legs.

Station Commander Kevin Napier, officer in charge of the incident, said: “Firefighters were met with a severe fire in a bungalow. Multiple crews of firefighters wearing breathing apparatus worked extremely hard to contain the fire and stop it spreading to a neighbouring bungalow.

“It was very difficult for crews to gain access initially to the main seat of the fire owing to large amounts of combustible materials, including paper and waste materials, blocking entrances and exits to the property.

“This incident highlights how important it is for residents to ensure they maintain easy and clear access routes throughout their property. Storing large amounts of combustible materials like paper can obstruct escape routes and result in a fire spreading much quicker than normal. This increases the risk of severe damage to your property, and in the worst case, a loss of life.

“If you know someone who stores lots of materials or who may struggle to get out of their house in an emergency, please contact us as we can provide free advice and support to help keep residents safe. Call us on 0800 9179994.”

The cause of the fire is being investigated.