A FAMILY has had to be re-housed after a devastating fire in a house with six children.

A child caused the blaze by setting fire to a bedroom while playing with a lighter and could be referred to Cleveland Fire Brigade's special unit for youngsters who start fires.

A girl in the same house has been praised for acting coolly in a crisis and raising the alarm to avert a disaster.

The fire began in a back bedroom in a terraced three-bedroom council house, after the child found the lighter and started to play with it.

A woman, her four children and two other young guests fled the house before the fire spread.

The heat was so intense that the ceiling melted, exposing cold water pipe soldering to also melt and sending water flooding downstairs into the kitchen. Firefighters had to deal with a flood as well as the fire.

Severe smoke damage was caused to the whole house in Monkton Road, Hartlepool, on Tuesday evening. The back bedroom where the children were sleeping was destroyed.

Hartlepool fire station officer Les Love said: "The little girl who raised the alarm saved her family and friends from a tragic disaster.

"There were six children in that house when the fire started and some might have been asleep. People have little chance of surviving if they breathe in smoke when asleep.

"Luckily, they all got out quickly before the fire took hold. This is a timely warning that children should not be allowed to get their hands on smoking materials like lighters and matches.

"In this case, the mother didn't smoke, but a visitor left a lighter behind, with near tragic results.