FIREFIGHTERS arrived at the scene of a blaze in record time after they ran into it while out doing door-to-door security calls.

A crew from Croydon Fire Station was flagged down in Park Hill Rise at 12.20pm on Sunday by a member of the public who alerted them to a house fire in adjacent Danecourt Gardens.

There the firefighters found a family of four who had escaped the blaze caused by an electrical fault with their fridge.

Watch manager Jamie Kirby said: "The entire kitchen was damaged by the fire, as well as about 50 per cent of the first floor.

"There was a mum and dad and two teenage daughters who were at home at the time, but they got out safely and were treated for smoke inhalation by the London Ambulance Service.

"It was quite lucky we were so close by – and ironically doing door-to-door knocks to offer free fire alarms and fire safety checks.

"We got a call to go to the address just seconds after a member of public called us to help."

Anyone in Croydon who wants to have a fire alarm installed at their home or a fire safety check carried out should call Croydon Fire Station on 020 8555 1200, extension 84561.