A FIRE caused by an unattended candle ripped through the top floor of a terrace house threatening other properties last night.

Neighbours had to be evacuated after the blaze took hold in the attic of a home in Aireville Road, Shipley, and fire crews from Shipley and Bradford attended after being alerted at 9.40pm.

The fire started after a candle was lit and left in an upstairs bedroom while one of the residents carried out painting and decorating in the room next door.

The rest of the family were in a basement living room and unaware of the fire until a smoke alarm and the smell of burning alerted the decorator.

He opened the door to find a wall of flame and the family fled the house.

Shipley fire crew arrived first and sent in four officers with breathing equipment to check the house was empty while neighbours were evacuated due to the risk of fire spreading through the attic space.

"Fire had spread into the roof void and so we evacuated other properties," said Shipley White Watch commander Jav Khan.

"It was a severe fire so we requested Bradford's aerial unit to get into the roof and then also a second unit from Leeds.

"We removed slates and exposed the attic and the property was made safe by 2.40pm.

"The fire was probably due to a candle left unattended, which a man had lit as he decorated a room next door.

"We spoke to the family and again we must re-iterate the danger of lit candles, whatever sort they are.

"People never think this sort of thing will happen to them - well it does," Mr Khan said.

"And another important message is that it shows the importance of always having working smoke alarms."

Family members were today moving property from their damaged house and praised the fire service its actions.
"They were here within what seemed like seconds and did a brilliant job," a family spokesman said.
"The important thing is that nobody was injured and they also saved our house and stopped the fire spreading.
"Luckily the damage is only to the top floor and they really did took a lot of care, even covering the hole left in the roof with tarpaulin, which is not something they had to do.
"It's a very upsetting time for us, but we are extremely grateful to the fireman from Shipley, and Bradford and also to the ones who came over from Leeds."