CORONATION Street's Fiz Brown today spoke about her real-life drama was she tried to help rescue a family from their blazing home.

Jennie McAlpine, who plays flame-haired Fiz, raced to the scene of the fire in Fern Street, Bacup, in her nightie from her nearby house.

She asked neighbours if there was anything she could do to help when she thought a family of six were still trapped in their home.

Firefighters and neighbours told the Corrie actress -- who plays a fiesty red-head in the top soap and is the boyfriend of dopey Kirk -- that the couple and children were safe.

She then joined locals for a cup of tea and a chat.

Jennie said: "I was pretty peripheral to the whole thing really. I certainly wasn't a have-a-go hero by any means, but I did what I could to help, and I'm sure anyone would have done the same if they had been my place.

"I'm glad to hear that everyone in the house is OK."

The couple who live in the house were named by neighbours as David and Joanne Longworth, and their five children, David, 12, Melissa, nine, Jason, seven, TJ, two and Charlotte, one, although one of the youngsters was staying with friends.

They are believed to have escaped the house before a Green Goddess crew and striking firefighters arrived. The blaze caused extensive damage, and the family's German Shepherd dog was found dead in the dining room.

Four firefighters at Bacup fire station crossed their picket line after receiving repeated reports of the fire. Sub officer John Lord, a firefighter for 24 years, said: "We did it because we care. Our argument is with the Government, not with the general public."

One man and three children were taken to hospital following the blaze at 3.30am yesterday, but it is not thought their injuries were serious. All six suffered the effects of smoke inhalation and one was treated for a minor foot injury.