A RUNCORN woman had a lucky escape after a fire broke out at her home while she slept.

Karen Berry, of Honister Grove, Beechwood, was rescued from her first floor bedroom window by firefighters after a fire started in the dishwasher in her kitchen on Friday, June 21, shortly before 1am.

The mother of one, who escaped the fire unharmed, said: “I had just got back from holiday and was a bit jet lagged so I’m not sure what woke me initially.

“I don’t know why I put the dishwasher on that night because I’m always so careful to turn everything off before I go to bed.”

The mum, whose daughter wasn’t in the house as the time, was woken by a series of small explosions which led to her dog Ollie becoming restless.

The fire had been going for approximately 30 minutes but Karen was unaware of the fire roaring through her house because she didn’t have any smoke alarms.

Karen said: “I didn’t realise until Rob, the firefighter, told me that the fire had been going for so long.

“I will be getting smoke alarms now and would urge anyone, who hasn’t got any, to do the same. I won’t ever be putting electrical appliances on at night again either.”

After receiving the emergency call, firefighters were dispatched immediately to the house where they found Karen sat on the window ledge with her legs dangling outside.

Firefighters used a ladder to get Karen to safety before tackling the blaze.

Both her dogs, King Charles and Ollie, also escaped the blaze unharmed.

Firefighter Rob Everson said: “Karen had the good sense to stay calm which not only helped the control operator to get clear information but also me who was at the top of the ladder with her.”