A TEENAGER helped prevent a fire from spreading to his family home.

Fire crews were called to a house in Dean Court Road, off Cumnor Hill, Oxford, where a blaze had started in a shed and spread quickly to the garage.

Fire officer Bob Paterson said: “Our initial call was to a shed fire, called in by one of the neighbours.

“But this got out of control very quickly and it had quickly spread to the adjacent garage and loft space.”

Six fire engines from Oxford, Eynsham, Abingdon and Woodstock were called to the scene at about 4pm on Tuesday.

Firefighters tackled the blaze with high pressure hoses and made sure no-one was inside the property.

Mr Paterson said: “Due to the prompt actions of the crews from Rewley Road Fire Station, the spread of the fire was halted at the garage and only caused smoke damage to the ground floor of the property.”

The house belonged to the Ahern family. Their 17-year-old son was home at the time of the fire and said he “heard crackling”.

He went to the garage, where he discovered the fire, and immediately closed the fire door to prevent the blaze spreading to the house. Neighbours phoned 999.

His mum, who did not want to give her first name, said: “We are very thankful he shut that door. He was very shaken up yesterday.

“All those times fire engines go into primary schools and teach them about fire safety, something must have gone in.”

The cause of the fire is now being investigated, but the family said it could have been caused by an electrical fault.