THREE people were rescued from their fire-affected home in Dawlish after lifesaving smoke alarms were triggered in the dead of night.

Two fire crews rushed to Luscombe Terrace just after 2.30am today to lead two women and a man – all aged between 30 and 50 – from the smoke-filled property.

One of the women in the multi-occupation address was given safety advice by a fire control operator over the phone ‘for some considerable time’ before firefighters arrived to lead her safely from the five-storey terraced property.

It’s understood the woman, who raised the alarm, was fearful of escaping unaided through the gathering smoke.

Crews from Dawlish and Teignmouth quickly located the woman, re-assured her and guided her outside without any difficulty.

They did the same for a couple who had to be woken after sleeping through the din of the smoke detector alarms.

Dawlish watch manager Paul Langdell said after the drama: ‘Thankfully, the property was fitted with working alarms. Without them this could have been a very different story.’

The anxious resident and her two neighbours did not require treatment afterwards from paramedics who attended the scene.

It’s thought the kitchen fire was caused by food being left unattended on a cooker.

Watch manager Langdell said it was fortunate the door was shut and the smoke beyond was not too much of a problem - although it was sufficient to trigger the alarms.

Four sets of breathing had to be worn by firefighters who used a hosereel jet to extinguish the blaze.

Damage was confined to 60 per cent of the kitchen area and a section of porch.