A Methil family have issued a fire safety warning after their smoke detectors failed.
James and Sharon Robertson, of Hollybank, urged householders to have their detectors tested.
They were awoken in the early hours of Sunday by their neighbour banging on the front door.
The neighbour’s kitchen had gone on fire and smoke was streaming into their house through the adjoining wall.
But the smoke detectors they had fitted in their house had not gone off, leaving them and their four children asleep as the blaze raged next door.
Mrs Robertson, 35, said: “The detector didn’t actually go off. By the time we got woken up, the house was already full of smoke.”
Fortunately, the Robertsons all managed to get out of the house safely.
One of their neighbours was taken to hospital for a precautionary check. However, nobody was seriously hurt.
Mrs Robertson added: “As long as everyone is OK, that’s the main thing. The rest can be replaced.”
It is understood the fire was caused by a chip pan catching light. The alarm was raised at around 3.15am.
Firefighters used one hosereel jet and breathing apparatus to extinguish the blaze.
The house where the fire started suffered extensive damage.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has now installed two working smoke detectors in the Robertsons’ mid-terraced home.
As part of its fire prevention work, the service offers home safety visits. It also fits smoke detectors free of charge.