FIRE safety advice given to a family paid off when a blaze broke out at their home.

When a 999 call came in from a terrace house in Ashfield Road, Ellesmere Port at 3.51am on Saturday fire crews dashed to the scene and discovered a fire in the living room.

The woman and her three-year-old son, who were trapped upstairs, were carried to safety through the front bedroom window before they were taken to hospital as a precaution.

It later emerged the crew that carried out the rescue had visited the property previously to give safety advice and fit free smoke alarms, which proved crucial.

Watch manager Tim Day said: “The smoke detectors we fitted and advice such as shutting downstairs doors at night to stop fire spread and having an escape plan were a major factor in the mum and her child being able to get out of their home unharmed.

“All personnel involved in this incident worked well as a team, including the control room operator who continued to speak to the occupier until her rescue.

“When we arrived the front was well alight, with flames and thick black smoke issuing from the front ground floor window.

“The mum was leaning out of the first floor bedroom window holding her small child and the thick black smoke was putting their lives at risk.

“One of the firefighters climbed the ladder and rescued the small child by dropping him to the crew manager.

“The mother was then lowered to the ground with the help of other firefighters. We gave medical care until the arrival of the ambulance service.”

Station manager Steve Flannagan added: “The actions taken by the woman were really good. She did as we would inform her and it made our life a lot easier.”

Two engines from Ellesmere Port and a third from Chester attended the scene.

Crews used four breathing apparatus sets and one main jet to extinguish the fire as well as a fan to clear e smoke.

They then used a thermal image camera to ensure the fire had not spread to adjoining properties.

The blaze is believed to have been started accidentally.

For a home safety advice visit contact Cheshire Fire Service on 0800 389 0053.