SMOKE alarms that did not work could have cost the occupants of a blazing house their lives, according to a leading firefighter.
The residents were in the property at the time of the fire but managed to evacuate after hearing loud bangs and then seeing smoke billowing out of the loft.
There was a smoke alarm in the house but it was not working.
Station manager Paul Cullen, who attended the fire, said: "This was an extremely serious incident and dozens of firefighters worked through the night to bring the blaze under control. It spread rapidly and caused major damage to the house.
"The occupants did not have working smoke alarms in the property so were incredibly lucky that they happened to hear the loud bangs which alerted them to the smoke. The consequences could easily have been very different.
"I would like to urge people to fit smoke detectors in their homes and to test them on a regular basis. Taking a few seconds every week to do this could end up saving your and your family's life."
Firefighters worked through the night to tackle the blaze that broke out in the thatched roof of the house in Draycott in the Clay.
Two crews from Burton, one from Tutbury and one from Barton-under-Needwood arrived on the scene at 8.39pm on Thursday evening.
The aerial ladder platform and welfare vehicle from Burton were also called to assist with the incident at the detached property on Hollow Lane, along with the water carrier from Cheadle.
Reserve crews from Uttoxeter and Barton-under-Needwood arrived later and remained overnight. The cause is currently being investigated.
