TAVISTOCK fire service were called out to a domestic fire on Sunday evening.

A dishwasher caught fire in a Priory Close home when the family were out, but a smoke alarm meant damage was limited.

Neighbour Mike Cotter heard the alarm, looked through windows of the property, saw it filled with smoke and called the fire service at 8pm. Two appliances attended, with 12 fire fighters.

Sub-officer and community fire officer Tim Smith said: ?We want to remind people about the benefits of smoke alarms in the home. If the alarm in this house hadn?t been there then, with the people being out, the house could have burnt down.

?As it was the kitchen burned and there is a lot of smoke damage in the house, but the smoke alarm saved an enormous amount of damage,? he said.

?People should remember smoke alarms save damage, and lives.?