A FAMILY were lucky to escape after a battery for a remote-controlled car “went up like a firework” and set their house on fire.

The fire, in Chapel Hill, Braintree, is believed to have been started shortly after midnight on Tuesday after the battery had been put on charge.

Kirsty Jones managed to escape with her three children, aged 16, 13 and nine.

She said: “It happened about midnight when my son plugged in his remote control car charger.

“It started crackling after it was plugged in and then it exploded within seconds.

“It went up like a firework but he had only just put it on charge.

“He was lucky because it could have gone right in his face.

“I have had to take pictures and send it to the manufacturer.

“The smoke was coming out everywhere.”

Her 16-year-old daughter managed to run upstairs and save the family cat, who was hiding under the bed.

Their dog, two birds and a hamster also had a lucky escape.

Miss Jones, who has lived in the Greenfields Community Housing property for 14 years, said the charger had not been left for any period of time.

Miss Jones, a cleaner at Braintree’s Bannatyne Health Club, added: “The fire crew were here within ten minutes. They had to go up the stairs on their hands and knees because it was black with smoke.

“We are having to sleep on my dad’s sofa, we can’t live here.”

Steve Wintrip, station officer at Braintree fire station, said: “The fire is believed to have started in a lithium polymer remote control car battery that was on charge.

“These batteries are extremely susceptible to fire if damaged or overcharged, which can result in a rapid fire onset. The best advice is not to charge these batteries in the home.

“As you can see this type of battery has the potential to cause a rapid fire with little or no warning if left unattended whilst charging, so make sure you have a working smoke alarm in the area were charging is occurring.”

A spokesman for Greenfields Community Housing said: “We are in close contact and are supporting the residents through this difficult time.

“They have chosen to stay with relatives for the next couple of days whilst we find a suitable property for them to stay in until the necessary repairs are carried out and their home is safe to return to.”