A BROMSGROVE family escaped uninjured from a fire after an eagle eyed neighbour spotted the flames and called emergency services.

The family were alerted to the fire when the working smoke alarm sounded and the father got his family out of the house, including his wife who was in the bath.

He also noticed a large fire in the rear bedroom and shut the bedroom door. 

Three crews from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, two from Bromsgrove one from Redditch, were called to the scene in Barnfield Road, shortly before 8pm last night (Thursday, January 19).

Two firefighters in breathing apparatus entered the house, fighting the fire up the tight stairway and tackling the fully developed fire in the rear bedroom.

Further crews in breathing apparatus continued firefighting to prevent the fire spreading into the roof and neighbouring premises.

Crews were finally able to confirm that they had stopped the fire spreading using thermal image cameras and a positive pressure ventilation fan was also used to help remove the smoke from the building.

Firefighters have praised the family for doing "all the right things" to prevent serious injury following a serious fire at their two storey terraced house.

Station Commander Ian Jallands explained: "Because of the working smoke alarm, no one was injured or died in this rapidly developing fire.  Judging by the extensive damage to the first floor, without the family getting out of the house when they did and calling the Fire Service, we might be telling a very different story."

He added: "Through their positive firefighting actions the first attending crews did really well to stop the fire in its tracks.  The rear bedroom and landing were completely destroyed and outside, the heat from the fire had caused the window to fail and flames had started a fire in the eaves of the roof. The whole house suffered extensive smoke damage."

The fire service have also stressed the importance of working smoke alarms.

West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Mercia Police also attended the scene.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but its possible it could have involved an electrical extension lead.