A HOUSEHOLDER in Blackburn has been praised by firefighters after a blaze engulfed a car just yards from his front door.

Firefighters were alerted immediately after a fault sparked a fire in a Vauxhall car parked close to a home in West Leigh Road, just before 9.40am.

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The husband led his wife and two children to safety in the back garden as the 999 call was being made.

Crew manager John Riley said: "The owner of the house had evacuated his family onto the rear garden in a safe area away from the fire.

"On arrival the car was found to have a significant fire in the engine compartment which was developing and starting to affect the rest of the car, the front bay window and the roof eaves of the property.

"The crew was in attendance within five minutes of the time of call and the prompt intervention from the fire and rescue service oprevented the fire from spreading to the property."

Before the vehicle fire was discovered, the car had been parked close to the semi-detached property shortly beforehand. Firefighters later checked the house, using a thermal imaging camera, to check that the flames had not spread.

Mr Riley added: "The owner saw smoke coming from the engine and evacuated all his family including two children into the rear garden to make sure they were safe, he then phoned the fire service.

"Car fires can be very dangerous and when involved in fire can produce a lot of projectiles and poisonous fumes. The owner's actions kept his family safe and saved his property."