A GRANDMOTHER proved to be the hero of the hour after a fire at her home threatened to engulf the whole house.

Mrs Fifi Armoogum, was watching TV with her granddaughter in an upstairs room at her home in Jubilee Avenue, London Colney, when she smelt smoke from the back bedroom where her daughter was sleeping.

As she opened the door to the room she noticed a fire and managed to wake her daughter and ring the fire brigade before all three fled the house at around 10.30am on Wednesday, April 10.

Neighbours helped to comfort Mrs Amoogum and her daughter and granddaughter (who did not want to be named) and also removed a car from the driveway as the fire threatened to engulf the whole house. Three fire engines arrived at the scene within minutes and managed to control the fire before it spread to a neighbouring home.

Mr Brian Armoogum, deputy manager at Houndswood House residential home, and who was at work at the time, said: "I was given a call to attend the scene immediately and I could not believe it. But, thankfully my wife, daughter and granddaughter were okay.

"I would like to thank all the neighbours who were very helpful and who looked after my family."

The upstairs of the house was completely gutted by the fire and Mr Armoogum said it would probably take up to seven months before the family could move back in.

Work to repair the damage has already started at the semi-detached home after loss adjusters inspected the house the next day. Although the family are insured it is expected they will have to stay in a hotel before they can move back into the home.

Mr Armoogum said: "We are devastated but we shall just carry on going to work and get on with life."

St Albans fire station officer, Ian Markwell, said: "It was quite a big fire and the family had a very lucky escape."

Fire investigation officers who inspected the home immediately after the incident said the fire was caused by an electrical fault.