A FAMILY from Frome had a “lucky escape” last night after a fire broke out at their home in Bendalls Wharf. 

Four casualties, including a baby, were treated for smoke inhalation and assessed by paramedics at the scene but did not require hospital care. 

Firefighters located the source of the fire as “e-batteries used for bicycles”. 

The occupants alerted the fire service to a fire in one of the bedrooms shortly before 8pm. 

Two fire engines from Frome were on the scene within minutes. The crews confirmed that the property was “well alight”. 

An assistance message was sent for two more appliances, which were sent from Warminster and Westbury (Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service). 

A spokesperson for the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said: "A family from Frome had a lucky escape last night after having a fire in their home at Bendalls Wharf in Frome.

"Initial calls from one of the occupants stated there was a fire in one of the bedrooms of the two-storey privately rented home.  

"Smoke and flames were issuing from the front and back of the property on our arrival, and once inside, crews located the source of the fire as e-batteries used for bicycles.

"Crews worked well and quickly to isolate the gas and electrics and prevent the fire from spreading any further.

"However, four casualties, including a baby, were treated by crew for smoke inhalation awaiting the arrival of ambulance paramedics." 

The fire was confirmed to be out at 9.37pm.

Crews used breathing apparatus, hose reel jets, covering jets, small tools and thermal imaging cameras to check for hotspots after plaster board and insulation was removed from a bedroom to expose the floor.

The spokesperson added: "The fire, which started accidentally, caused 100 per cent damage to the room of origin, 60 per cent by fire to the first floor and 30 per cent by smoke and water to the ground floor.

"Two neighbouring properties sustained slight smoke damage to the attic spaces but due to the effective work of fire crews no further damage was sustained to the row of terraced houses."

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 8.17pm on Tuesday, February 21 to an incident in Frome and sent two land ambulances."