A MOTHER forced to flee her burning home with her children in her arms has spoken of their dramatic escape - and of how a smoke alarm saved their lives.

Lori Rainwater, who lost her possessions and much-loved family dog when a blaze tore through her terraced home, said: “This story could easily have been one of a mother and her three children who didn’t make it."

After dragging her screaming children from the burning building on Wilson Street, Darlington, the barefoot 28-year-old could do nothing but watch as fire crews battled to save her home and adored pet, Nina.

Just hours after escaping the ferocious flames at just before midnight on Monday, the brave mother-of-three shared her story in a bid to encourage others to fit life-saving smoke alarms.

Still in shock, Ms Rainwater recalled the events of the evening while acknowledging the efforts and bravery of her neighbours and the fire crews who attempted to resuscitate Nina and stopped the fire from spreading to other properties.

Ms Rainwater had put children Brooke, six, Caleb, one, and nine-month-old Megan to bed before lighting a candle and going upstairs to run a bath.

She said: “Less than ten minutes later the fire alarm went off – I couldn’t smell smoke and was totally oblivious but I ran downstairs and saw the couch in flames and the curtains ablaze.

“All I could think about was getting out - I thought we have to get out now or we’re not going to get out at all.”

Carrying her two youngest children, Ms Rainwater fled barefoot into the street where she was comforted by neighbours who had smelled smoke and raised the alarm.

Fire crews were on the scene within six minutes and did their best to manage the situation while attempting to rescue the family dog.

She said: “Nina got out but panicked, ran back inside and unfortunately perished.

“I wanted to go in after her but a very kind man held me and told me if I did, my children would be orphaned.

“Our dog was a member of the family and we’re grieving but this story could easily have been one of a mother and her three children who didn’t make it.”

The family were taken to hospital for checks but were left unscathed by the fire.

Ms Rainwater returned to her blackened house this morning to survey the damage and thank neighbours.

She said: “The children’s toys are all melted together and seeing that made me realise the heat that was in there and how grateful I am that we got out at all.

“We left the house with nothing, not even shoes - we were just wearing our nightclothes and wrapped in duvets.

“We’ve lost everything – downstairs is destroyed though we might be able to salvage some furniture from upstairs.

“I don’t care about losing possessions but I’m gutted we lost Nina, though very grateful they tried so hard to save her – it restored my faith in humanity.”

Ms Rainwater wants to use her traumatic experience to inspire others to fit smoke alarms and be more aware of fire hazards such as candles.

She said: “You think it’ll never happen to you but it happens so quickly and if I’d ignored the alarm or taken my time checking, we wouldn’t have made it.

“I’ll never light a candle again – I only left it unattended for less than ten minutes and it’s just not worth having naked flames around the house.

“Get smoke alarms fitted and get them tested – without them there’s no way we would have known there was a fire until it was too late.”

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said it delivered home fire safety visits and fitted free smoke alarms to all households within its area; prioritising those people who were most at risk Contact the fire service on 0845-2234221 to arrange a visit.

The service is also urging people to check their smoke alarms.