Blaze family’s escape

ESCAPE . . . the blaze-damaged house

A family of four including an 18-month-old baby escaped a fire which ripped into a bedroom and loft space at a house in Royton.

Firemen had to tear burning glass fibre insulation from the roof of the semi-detached house in Lewisham Close late on Saturday night.

The back bedroom, bathroom and loft were severely damaged and the house was filled with smoke.

The fire shot through the back bedroom window, melting plastic guttering and window frames, and may have been caused by a cigarette.

It happened just before midnight when Debbie Goulden, her partner Paul, and her teenage son Aaron and 18-month-old daughter Katy, were in the house

All were taken to hospital suffering from breathing in the smoke. The family’s Yorkshire terrier was also rescued by firemen.

Next-door-neighbour Stacey Aspin had been at a family barbecue near-by, and her son Curtis-Lee (10) spotted the fire engines heading towards their home.

Stacey, who has lived in Lewisham Close for 10 years, said: “Aaron got his family out. Apparently he flew round to our house and booted the front door because he thought I was in and the flames were so bad. I got a call telling me about it and telling me to get home. They are really nice people and they had a terrible time on Saturday because earlier in the day someone had crashed into their car.

“The fire brigade were pulling loft insulation out of the roof space next door with a big hook. They did a great job and they also came round to our house and checked it was safe and fitted us with smoke alarms.

“The ambulance people checked Katy out because she was so small.”