A discarded cigarette caused a house fire in Alloa which put a man and woman in hospital and killed their pets.
The alarm was raised at 12.20pm on Thursday after a bed caught fire at a flat in Hill Street.
Crews from Alloa, Falkirk and Stirling were mobilised with the first team at the scene in four minutes.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “The fire had started in the bedroom of the upstairs flat in a block of four and was caused by a discarded cigarette.
“The female occupant of the flat discovered her bed well alight and tried to smother the flames, with no success.
“She then got herself and a male occupant out of the house and called 999.
“Crews quickly got the fire under control and extinguished, but it had already caused extensive damage to the bedrooms and other parts of the flat.
“The occupants suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to Forth Valley Hospital for further treatment. Unfortunately, their pet dog and cat also suffered smoke inhalation and passed away at the scene.”
