A FAMILY'S Christmas was saved by quick-thinking firefighters. 

Fire crews were called to Nayland Road, in Great Horkesley last night after a dehumidifier caught fire in the detached home, where building work was being carried out. 

The family were alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm at about 8.15pm. 

Leading Firefighter Stephen Adamson said: "The residents of the property were altered to the fire in one of the bedrooms when their smoke alarm started sounding, they then called the fire service. 

"When we arrived firefighters entered the property wearing breathing apparatus and the crews quickly extinguished the fire, stopping it from spreading throughout the house. 

"The owners had been having building work carried out on the house and were using the dehumidifier in the bedroom when the fire broke out."

He added: "Incidents like this show the importance of a working smoke alarm in your home.  

"Smoke alarms provide vital early warning at the first sign of fire giving you and your family time to get safely out before calling us in.

"It is also important to close doors if a fire breaks out as this will slow down the spread of fire and reduces the main danger-smoke."

Firefighters from Colchester and Suffolk battled the blaze, which was extinguised by 9pm. 

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