Children praised over fire rescue

A family of seven escaped from a severe fire at their home in Doncaster thanks to the quick-thinking of their children, firefighters have said.

A smoke alarm alerted a young boy to the blaze in the kitchen of the house on Church Road, Stainforth, on Sunday.

He told his 17-year-old sister who, following fire safety advice, gathered the other children in her bedroom and led them onto a roof via an extension.

Their parents were able to leave the house through a downstairs door.

The children - three girls, aged 17, 12 and four and two boys aged 11 and seven - were then helped to safety by neighbours.

Looking at the house now it seems unbelievable that anyone escaped without injury Dick Hutton, South Yorkshire Fire Service group manager

Firefighters from Thorne and Doncaster entered the house wearing breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze, which caused extensive damage.

South Yorkshire Fire Service group manager Dick Hutton said: "Looking at the house now it seems unbelievable that anyone escaped without injury.

"If the property had not been fitted with a smoke alarm the consequences could have been terrible.

"I would like to praise the actions of their 17-year-old daughter, who remembered vital safety advice given to her by firefighters during a recent home fire safety risk assessment.

"She closed her bedroom door and made sure all the children followed a pre-planned escape route out of her bedroom window."

The fire service's fire victim support unit is helping the family, who escaped injury but were all given precautionary checks at hospital.

It is believed the fire was caused by a toaster in the kitchen.