During the early hours of this morning firefighters from Red Watch and a retained crew from Camborne were called to a house fire at Polgrain Road, Tolvaddon, Camborne.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus quickly extinguished the fire on the first floor of the property using hosereels.

The fire started in the airing cupboard and caused substantial first floor fire and smoke damage.

Sub officer Nick Harvey, of Red Wacth at Camborne, said: "Fortunately the occupants were alerted by working smoke alarms that had been fitted by firefighters from Camborne.

"The occupants realised that the fitting of these detectors had probably saved their lives. The smoke alarms woke them up and enabled them to get out of their home safely"

Firefighters across the county carry out door to door free Home Fire Safety Checks. The initiative the Home Fire Safety Check' was started in 2003. Firefighters from the brigade visit people in their homes to carry out a Home Fire Safety Check (HFSC).

The Home Fire Safety Check is an evaluation of the occupier's risk from fire, which includes home fire safety advice and the supply of free smoke alarms if required.

Between April last year and the end of March this year firefighters visited 18,000 homes in Cornwall and fitted, free of charge, 4,200 smoke alarms.