FIREFIGHTERS say a Bridgwater family were lucky to escape with their lives after a blaze at their home.

Steve Bailey and partner Michelle O’Leary are now urging people to make sure they have a smoke detector fitted after they nearly died because they had no such alarm at their home in York Road.

Earlier this month, Steve and Michelle woke in the middle of the night to see smoke wafting through the rooms of their home after a computer caught fire.

Their two-year daughter Lacey was in their bedroom with them as she had been feeling ill and the incident has left them terrified by what might have been.

Michelle, 20, said: “I was petrified. I keep thinking ‘what if’ – what if we had woken up later, or not at all because smoke had got to us? Lacey was ill so we took her into our room, otherwise she could have been affected by the smoke.”

Steve added: “My message to everyone is please ensure you have smoke detectors fitted and working in your homes. “We feared for our lives that night. The damage from the fire has caused us loads of work to repair and redecorate.”

Neighbours put the family up for the night and fire crews have since fitted smoke detectors in their home.

Bridgwater station manager Bob Ferguson said: “This small fire could have resulted in the deaths of three young members of the Bridgwater community.

“A large amount of acrid, toxic smoke was produced by the burning plastic.

“I urge people for the safety of themselves and loved ones, that they have smoke detectors fitted, maintained and in working order.”

For more information, or to arrange a fire safety visit, www.dsfire.gov.uk