A FAMILY fled its home as a devastating fire tore through an annexe and attic bedroom.

The intense blaze blew out a side bedroom window showering glass onto the street below as firefighters arrived at the scene in Heidelberg Road, Heaton, at around 8.44am today.

A Fairweather Green crew had been on routine community work one mile away when it saw a plume of smoke shooting into the sky.

Watch commander Michael Smith said: "We spotted it and knew it was going to be major. As soon as we rang control we were turned out to it.

"Fire was coming out of the roof and windows at the back."

All family members were able to get out of the end-terrace house, but a 30-year-old man suffered superficial burns and some smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital for treatment.

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Back-up was called from Bradford fire station and an extra ladder appliance from Leeds, but as a crew tried to tackle the blaze inside wearing breathing apparatus the first floor gave way and firefighters were beaten back.

"It made it very dangerous to go in so we had to come back out and fight it from the outside," said Mr Smith.

Firefighters, who were at the house well into the afternoon making it safe, also had to remove part of the roof.

Speaking at the scene yesterday afternoon, Mr Smith said: "Fire investigators are in there now. We don't know exactly what's happened there yet but whatever it was it was quick. We think it's started in a bedroom."

An extension at the back of the house was gutted in the fire and, through a gap where a window used to be, all that was left on the visible walls was bare brick and plaster.

Charred debris lay scattered in the yard and the attic bedroom could also be seen to have suffered heavy damage.

Mr Smith said: "The other main rooms in the house have got some water damage but it's the rear extension and attic bedroom that have taken the brunt."

Smoke from the fire had also crept through neighbouring roof voids, but the next door houses were not badly damaged.

Mr Smith added: "There was quite a crowd in the street when we arrived, there had been several 999 calls."

The cause of the fire is not thought to be deliberate, but is still under investigation.

A fire investigation team is working to establish the cause of the fire.