A FAMILY had lucky escape after fire ripped through their home in Catterick Garrison.

The blaze broke out at the house on Byng Road on the corner of Linton Rise at around 6.30am this morning (Monday, February 11) and led to the closure of the road from the White Shops to Hipswell Dip.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service sent four appliances from Colburn, Richmond, Leyburn and Bedale to deal with the blaze.

A woman and her two children had already escaped from the building and were taken to hospital for treatment to smoke inhalation.

The Northern Echo:

Emergency services tackle a bungalow fire on Byng Road, in Catterick Garrison. Picture:  Alexa Copeland

Next door neighbour, 59-year-old Kev Jones, whose conservatory and roof were damaged by the fire, said he was woken up by banging, but it wasn’t until a friend from across the road knocked on his door that he realised what was happening.

He said: “I heard some banging from next door about 6ish which woke me up.

“Then my friend across the road came banging on the door saying ‘get out the house next door is on fire’.

“I grabbed what I wanted and got out and I could see the family were already out.

“We got outside and waited for the fire brigade.”

Mr Jones said when the fire took hold ‘it really went up’ and the main concern for the brigade was to stop it spreading to his house.

Speaking from the scene, Station Manager Dave Winspear of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We got the fire under control within about 15minutes, obviously we have been here the rest of the morning to carry out fire investigations, dampening down and making sure the building is safe.”

Mr Winspear said it was too early to say what had caused the fire but initial observations suggest it started in the lounge.

He added: “It has destroyed the whole house.

“There were not any smoke alarms fitted to the property and we really would like to stress how important it is to have a smoke alarm and to make sure it is working properly.

“If anyone needs any information about how to get one, they should contact their local fire station.”

Residents posted about the incident on Facebook.

One wrote: "Five fire appliances on site,one from Bedale and an ambulance ,bungalow still on fire AVOID and all traffic is being diverted. Unsure about where school bus will go."

Another wrote: "Roads closed both ways, police van blocking bottom of dips."

The Northern Echo:

The scene after a bungalow fire on Byng Road, in Catterick Garrison. Picture:  Alexa Copeland

Another wrote: "Speaking to the fire crews, making cups of tea. All occupants are safe, no one's injured that is the main thing."

A family friend has set up a JustGiving page for the residents of one of the affected properties.

"They are always there to help others and have helped my son plenty.
I'd like to do something in return," they wrote on the page which has a target of £5,000.

The Northern Echo:

The scene after a bungalow fire on Byng Road, in Catterick Garrison. Picture:  Alexa Copeland

"I want to raise funds to help them in this transition period. They are going to need clothes so the kids can go to school and, well, everything else that we take for granted."

An investigation will now start into the cause and the fire service has remained at the scene throughout the morning to check for hotspots and ensure the area is safe.