A FIRE spread to two Swindon homes and needed seven fire engines to put out.
Firefighters and police filled Holly Close in Rodbourne Cheney on Thursday night to help evacuate the properties and tackle the blaze.
Two crews each from Swindon and Stratton's fire stations attended along with one crew each from Westlea, Cricklade and Royal Wootton Bassett.
Fire control also sent over the aerial ladder platform from central Swindon, the incident command vehicle from Stratton and an operational support unit from Salisbury.
A Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "We were called to Holly Close at 7.13pm on Thursday for a fire affecting two properties.
"A fire had started on the ground floor of one house and spread up through to the roof and also to the neighbouring house.
"Six breathing apparatus wearers, one main jet and three hose reel jets were used to extinguish the fire, and the aerial ladder platform was used to access the roof, allowing the tiles to be removed.
"Relief crews came from Amesbury, Warminster and Calne, and the stop was at 2.22am."
A cordon remains in place outside the houses this morning. The roof of one home in the cul-de-sac has been badly charred and there is some damage visible on the front wall.
A Swindon Police spokesman said: "We were alerted by the fire service to a report of a fire at two houses in Holly Close, Swindon, at 7.45pm last night. It is believed the fire was caused after a mattress outside the property set alight by a discarded cigarette."
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