More than 20 people had to flee a post-funeral gathering when fire broke out.

Children playing with matches are believed to have started the blaze in the dormer bedroom of the house in Edensor Road, Keighley. Fire crews called to the scene were told that a child could be trapped in the terraced property. But while the house was being searched, information came through that the youngster was safe elsewhere.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus took about ten minutes to bring the blaze - on Monday afternoon - under control.

Spokesman Joe O'Keeffe told us: "We could see a pall of smoke on leaving the fire station and we were at the scene within three minutes. When we arrived the dormer was well alight, with flames coming out of the window. The room was virtually destroyed, and there was heat and smoke damage to the whole upper floor."

He warns that matches should always be kept out of reach of children.

No smoke detectors were installed in the house, and Mr O'Keeffe says that had they been fitted the occupants would have been alerted to the blaze much sooner. He adds: "We are still involved in a home-risk assessment in which all householders in the area are being visited and offered advice and smoke detectors, but because of the magnitude of the task it will take some time. Detectors should be fitted on every level of a house, and we want to see them in every household in the district."

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