KEY POINTS:
A South Auckland family can thank their smoke alarm for getting them to Christmas alive this year.
Without it, Fire Safety officer Russell Dickson said there was little doubt there would have been fatalities in the Onehunga blaze this morning.
The fire started in a children's bedroom as the family slept, but it was detected by the smoke alarm.
Mr Dickson said he talked to one of the boys who had been sleeping in the room, and was woken up by the alarm.
He said if he had slept on, the boy would have been overcome by smoke within two to three minutes.
Russell Dickson says the fire was probably started by a candle, which he said should never be used in bedrooms.
- NEWSTALK ZB
