Fire crews from Gosport and Fareham have been called to a property in the Bridgemary area of Gosport this evening.
Three fire appliances attended the incident at a property in Turners Avenue. Crews were called just after 8.40 this evening.
Fire Crews had to use sledge hammers to smash their way through a locked front door of the Semi-detached after reports of person being inside. Crews found a small fire in the stairs within the property.
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Neighbours have revealed that two young children aged six and nine years old, had been left home alone in the property with 26 dogs and a number of puppies.
One shocked resident in the road believed that the mum of the two youngest was out at work at the time.
The father of the children returned home shortly after fire crews gained entry has been detained by Police. The middle-aged man was taken away in a Police van to Fareham Police station for questioning.
The children were unhurt but Paramedics who attended the incident checked them over.
The children are now being cared for by neighbours. Part of the road remains sealed off. Scene of Crime officers and Arson Task force officers have also attended the scene and have been examining a bath towel that on a grass area outside the property.
RSCPA Inspectors have also spent the evening that the property.
A Spokesman for Hampshire Fire and Rescue service said that crew had been called to the property and they are now working with Police.