THREE children screamed out of a window to be rescued as a blaze ripped through their Morecambe home.
Fire-fighters from the resort were called to the West End Road building to pluck the children from the inferno.
Officers dramatically hauled the youngsters - aged eight, nine and 14 out of a first floor window which was billowing thick black smoke before tackling the blaze just before 11.30pm on Saturday.
The children were taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary for treatment and detained overnight.
A fire service spokesman told the Citizen: "Only the quick thinking and skill of the fire-fighters stopped this becoming a tragic incident.
"Occupiers of the premises had a smoke alarm but had taken it down. If the alarm had been up and working the children would have been alerted much earlier."
The blaze is being treated as arson and investigations are continuing.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service stresses the importance of having a working smoke alarm. They can be obtained by having a free home fire safety check by local officers. For details, call 0800-1691125.
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