A FAMILY that was alerted to a blaze in their flat by a smoke detector managed to escape their home in the early hours of the morning.

Fire crews from Devizes and Melksham were called to White Horse Way in Devizes at about 1.30am last Wednesday after a 999 call was made.

A man, who it is thought was asleep on the sofa in the sitting room in the flat when the blaze started, received a burn to his hand.

He, his partner and two young children were able to escape the building and took refuge with friends in the road.

People living in other flats in the same building were evacuated after smoke started to spread.

Watch manager Richard Lake said: “There was a lot of smoke in the flat but most of the fire damage was in the living room.

“When we got to the flat the family had already managed to get outside. We got other people out of the same block as the smoke had spread. They were outside for more than an hour.”

A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said the blaze showed the importance of having a working smoke detector.

They said: “It was a very early start for everyone at the station. Both appliances along with Melkshsm were called to a flat fire on White Horse Way.

“Thankfully, all the occupants had managed to escape as we arrived. There was extremely heavy smoke logging throughout the premises and four breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets and two main jets externally were used to extinguish the fire.

“The damage to the property was extensive and shows how having a working smoke alarm can, and does save lives with early warning to fire.”

People took to social media to praise the work of the fire crews and to add their voice to the warning for people to have smoke alarms.

One person said: “Good work bycrews glad all got to safety.” Another added: “Thank god they had smoke alarms and all got out safe.”