THE story of how a young family narrowly escaped death in a fire has been highlighted by a senior fire officer to make a safety point.

A man, woman and child were saved by a smoke alarm waking them in the early hours of Wednesday, last week.

Ian Dockerty, divisional fire commander for North Durham, said that the fire was caused by not treating candles properly.

The incident at a house in Dorset Crescent, Moorside, Consett, happened when a candle set a quilt alight. All three were taken to hospital after inhaling smoke. The man had burned his feet by trying to stamp out the flames. None were seriously injured.

But Mr Dockerty said : "It turned out they had taken out the downstairs smoke alarm, but left the upstairs. If they hadn't, they would have been dead. As a fire officer of more than 20 years I know I wouldn't be able to sleep without a smoke alarm. It also shows how candles can be dangerous. The problem is if candles are not in glass or ceramic containers they heat up other material when they burn out."