FIREFIGHTERS have described a family as ‘very, very lucky’ after they escaped from a fire which tore through their back door and windows.

A neighbour alerted the sleeping residents of a house in Pembroke Drive to the fire which had been alight in their wheelie bins at around 5.30 this morning.

The fire, which is being treated as arson with intent to endanger life, spread into the kitchen of the three-bed semi-detached house, melting the back door and destroying two windows.

Three fire engines from Bury and Heywood were called to the scene at 5.38am where crews found the members of the family, believed to be aged 69, 67, 29 and 34, outside the house.

Crews used breathing apparatus to enter the house and prevent the spread of the blaze onto the polystyrene kitchen ceiling tiles, stopping the fire from burning out the kitchen but the room was left with very heavy smoke damage.

Bury watch manager Steve Wilcock said: “The fire started in some wheelie bins that were next to the house and the fire spread to the house where there were four people inside.

“They narrowly got out of the house, they were very, very lucky.

“The four people got out because of the neighbour banging on the door to wake the family up. When we got there they were all stood out the front in their night clothes.

“It was a malicious act and a deliberate fire.

“The back door was completely melted in and the room was very heavily smoke damaged.

“We got there just in time to stop the flames taking hold. If the flames had reached the ceiling tiles it would have been a very serious situation.”

Mr Wilcock also issued a warning for residents around the area to ensure they store their wheelie bins away from windows and doors.

He added: “You might not have the option to store them anywhere else but there is easy access to your property you must make sure to push them away from windows or anywhere with access.

“Wheelie bin fires are very strong and windows and doors can burn very easily.”

Fire crews and police remain at the scene this morning and the property has been tapped off while an investigation is carried out.