A FATHER has spoken about the horror of waking up to discover a fire which gutted his family home.
Two children were saved from the blaze which destroyed a house near Exeter by a smoke alarm.
Four children, aged 10, six, four and nine, and one adult, were in the house in Bradninch when the fire started at 2.45am on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old father of the four children, who asked not to be named, said he was awoken at 1.30am by rain. He drifted back to sleep but then heard the sound of the smoke alarm.
He said: "I went downstairs to investigate and opening the kitchen door I could see flames shooting up from the cooker hood. The flames went up to the ceiling. I rushed back upstairs to get the children out.
"I told them to grab something to put on and the two eldest made their way out the front.
"I took my four-year-old and six-year-old by the hand but on the way downstairs I got separated from my six-year-old daughter.
"I put the four-year-old out in the garden and rushed back and picked up my six-year-old and carried her out. That's when I called 999."
He added: "I looked back and there was a huge orange glow coming from the house.
"I have to say it was the smoke alarm that saved everybody, I am absolutely certain of it. I just feel numb." The Fire and Emergency Service Support vehicle and ambulance were called to the scene.
The fire was extinguished after four hours. It is believed to have started in the kitchen of the property.
The man's wife said: "I am absolutely devastated."
The family has lived in the modern end of terrace house for seven years.
Station Manager Deasy said: "This was a severe fire with temperatures rising to in excess of 1,000 degrees Celsius.
"I would like to congratulate the family for doing exactly the right thing when the fire occurred and having the early warning in place to alert them to the fire.
"At this time of night, and due to the severity of the fire, this incident could have had more severe consequences.
"I would also like to thank their neighbours for rallying around them and giving them support and the fire crews for working tirelessly to extinguish the fire."
Mr Deasy added that having buildings and contents insurance is also important to help rebuild your life and property if a serious fire occurs.
Fire officer Mal Swallow said the fire was not suspicious.
He said: "This fire shows that smoke alarms save lives."
