A REDDITCH family of four who lived at a house with no smoke detectors is lucky to be alive after a fire broke out at their Batchley home.

Three fire engines from Redditch were called to the incident 1.37am today (Wednesday, May 20) after a timer set on a dishwasher caused the blaze.

Two adults and two children escaped from a bedroom window onto the front porch roof as severe smoke had covered the stairs.

The family were taken to hospital as a precaution due to smoke inhalation.

Firefighters used a triple extension ladder to rescue the family and their pets, a cat and a dog, and entered to the property to tackle the fire.

The crews used breathing apparatus sets to enter the building and a hose reel was used to extinguish the fire.

Group commander George Marshall said: “The family did not have smoke alarms installed in their home but luckily the young boy woke up and raised the alarm.

“A smoke alarm provides an early warning and will give you more time to escape so we urge people to fit a working smoke alarm on every level of their home and ensure they are tested on a weekly basis.”

“The kitchen door being shut contained the fire and stopped it from seriously spreading.

“Please ensure that before you go to bed that you shut your doors, turn off your appliances and have that all important escape plan.”

During the fire, the kitchen door had been shut preventing the fire’s spread.

Crews will return later today to installed fire alarms.