More than 90 firefighters fought for nearly 10 hours to contain a huge blaze in Popham on Sunday, January 9.
Two semi-detached thatched cottages in Winchester Road were badly damaged in the fire, which broke out in the early morning.
The residents of the properties, a family of four and a woman, escaped unhurt.
The alarm was sounded at 12.10am with a report to Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service of a chimney fire.
Fire crews from Basingstoke, Odiham, Overton, Alresford, Whitchurch, Sutton Scotney and Winchester were dispatched to the scene.
Specialist vehicles, including a water carrier from Basingstoke and a multi-role vehicle from Andover, were also sent to the scene.
When the crews arrived, the two-storey buildings were already well alight.
The A33 was closed in both directions near the A30 junction while firefighters tackled the blaze.
Forty-eight firefighters in breathing gear used five high-power water jets and four hose reels to bring the flames under control.
The blaze was extinguished by 9.30am.
Fire chiefs said that both floors of one of the properties were severely damaged.
The first floor of the other cottage was 70 per cent damaged and the ground floor 40 per cent damaged.
Officer in charge of the incident area manager Mark Rayner said: “This type of incident is always very difficult to deal with due to the make up of the thatch roof.
“The crews did a fantastic job to ensure that nearby properties were protected from the incident.
“Had it not been for the swift actions and hard work in arduous conditions of the fire crews there is no doubt that the damage would have been much more significant.”
When the flames were out, fire crews checked both roofs with a thermal imaging camera to ensure there were no hot spots.
The cause of the blaze was identified in a report conducted by the fire service as a fault in a chimney lining.
More than 90 per cent of fires in thatched properties are caused by faults in the flue or chimney.
Residents with a thatched house can download an advice pack from the fire service website at www.hantsfire.gov.uk
