SMOKE from a fire which completely gutted a house in Matchborough on Friday could be seen up to two miles away, according to Redditch firefighters.
The blaze started in the living room of the Frankton Close home before spreading to ground floor rooms, the first floor and attic.
Firefighters believe the most likely cause of the fire was due to a child playing with a lighter.
About 20 firefighters, three engines from Redditch and one from Bromsgrove, spent about four hours tackling the blaze.
They were called to the scene at about 9.50am and had to use ladders to get to the first floor because the stairs were burnt out.
A woman and three children were evacuated before crews arrived.
The house, the second in a row of five, was completely gutted by fire and smoke damage and adjoining premises were also affected by smoke.
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