Barking dogs could have saved their owners' lives after alerting them to a fire that destroyed a house in the middle of the night.
Crews from five stations were dispatched to the property in Takeley, Essex, at 2.45am this morning.
The home has been left completely uninhabitable after the huge blaze spread from an outbuilding to the house's roof.
No-one was harmed as the flames battered the property, which was rebuilt after a previous house fire in 2007.
A neighbour who helped rescue horses from the property's stable said she was woken by an explosion and "looked out the window to see a sea of orange".
The cause of the fire is yet to be established.
However, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service believe it started in an outbuilding at the rear of the property, quickly spreading to the roof of the house.
Two sets of animals at the property - some dogs and horses in a nearby stable - were rescued without suffering any harm.
One neighbour told the BBC: "My first thought was a plane had come down.
"I was living here when the Korean plane came down in 1999 at nearby Stansted Airport - and then realised it was a house and my partner and I ran out to see if our neighbours were awake and to ring the fire service."
Station Manager Terry Maher said: "The owners were alerted to the fire by their dogs barking in the early hours of this morning.
"The fire started in an outbuilding at the rear of the property and quickly spread to the roof of the house.
"Crews worked incredibly hard, particularly due to the limited water supply, and did a fantastic job in saving the property and horses who were in a nearby stable. I'd also like to thank Stansted Airport Fire Service who were able to support us."
Dunmow Road will remain closed while investigative work at the scene continues.
A fire investigation will be carried out to establish the cause.
Three neighbours then helped the police lead three horses from the property's stables.
One of them said: "It was absolutely terrifying - the stables had filled with smoke, the horses were terrified and we had to lead them through blowing smoke and blowing embers.
"They were really good in the circumstances, but they were obviously traumatised by what was going on as there were blue lights everywhere, there was the fire and it was dark.
"You're on autopilot then afterwards the shock hits you, but you can't leave a horse to die of smoke inhalation."
