Family led to safety from blaze

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6141266.stm

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A family have been rescued from a fire at their home in Newtownards.

Firefighters called to the house at Old Belfast Road at about 2150 GMT on Saturday found the house well alight when they arrived.

A man and woman and their young daughter were trapped upstairs while the blaze developed in the kitchen.

They were eventually led to safety down a ladder by firefighters. Other crew members managed to get inside and quickly bring the fire under control.

During the family's ordeal, they had stayed in contact with staff at the Fire and Rescue Service's control room.

Firefighter Mark Gunning said control room staff were well-trained in how to deal with such cases.

"They can reassure them, tell them help is on the way and give them the right advice about staying in a safe location and opening windows, closing off doors, blocking gaps underneath doors so they are in relative safety until help arrives," he said.