QUICK actions from firefighters saved a house from going up in flames according to the Chippenham homeowners, who have also thanked neighbours for the support they have received.

Carpets were destroyed and a wall was damaged in the bedroom fire which took place at the home of Margaret and Nigel Rice, but they believe it could have been much worse.

“We just want to say many thanks to the fire brigade and we’re thankful for the smoke alarm,” said Mrs Rice, who has lived with her husband in the house since 1985.

“Thank God we were home because our neighbours were out and it’s a good thing it didn’t happen when we were asleep as we would have had to try and get past the bedroom.

“We’re very much close on the street, everyone looks out after each other.

“We had offers from people across the way to come around if we needed a place to stay or have a cup of tea, they have been really lovely.

“All the things we have lost can be replaced and luckily no one was hurt.”

One fire crew from Chippenham and another from Corsham attended the incident at 1.36pm on Sunday (April 2), where it’s believed a battery inside an electrical item inside the room may have ignited.

The fire was extinguished using two breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets, with crews coming away by 2.40pm.

Mr and Mrs Rice had been enjoying a normal afternoon at their home on Cranwell Close when they heard their smoke alarm going off upstairs.

“We were cooking dinner downstairs and I was talking to a neighbour and we heard the smoke alarm going off so I ran up the stairs,” said Mrs Rice.

“I opened the door to the little bedroom and just saw a flame coming up the wall so I shut the door but there was smoke billowing out.

“My daughter had just arrived and she rang the fire brigade but my husband tried to put the fire out with buckets of water from the bathroom.

“I said let the fire brigade do it as it was getting pretty big at this stage.

“It seemed to take forever for the fire brigade to arrive but obviously it wasn’t and two men went straight up the stairs and they were marvellous.”