Ten fire crews battled throughout the evening and into the night to control a fire at a cattery in a Norfolk village.
The blaze broke out just before 5pm on Thursday at Country Retreat Boarding Cattery at White Dyke Farm, Hockwold cum WIlton, near Thetford.
Dean Lacey, fire manager at Fakenham, who was at the scene, said nobody was hurt, but that the crews would be there for “quite a while”.
He was unable to confirm whether any cats were killed or injured.
Mr Lacey said: “No persons have been injured. We’re unsure about cat injuries. We will be on site until the early hours of the morning due to the complex nature of the fire.
“It is complex because the roof has collapsed and we are unable to enter the building.
“It has been a joint effort with crews from Norfolk and Suffolk. We have begun investigating the cause of the fire, which is normal procedure.”
Crews from Methwold, Brandon, Thetford, King’s Lynn, Mildenhall, Downham Market, Fakenham, Wymondham, Watton and Swaffham attended.
People in the Hockwold cum Wilton and Feltwell area were warned to close all doors and windows.
On Twitter, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said: “We are currently dealing with an incident in Hockwold Cum Wilton/Feltwell area. Can all residents in the surrounding area please close all doors and windows.”
Firefighters used hose reel jets, main covering jets and foam to extinguish the blaze.
On Friday morning, the fire service said the blaze had been extinguished and the operation had been scaled down to one engine.
The spokesman said: “A fire engine is keeping an eye on it to ensure no flare ups would occur. The fire has been put out.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here