FAMILIES had to be evacuated when fire tore through four houses and threatened to spread through the whole street.

Kevin Gibson, station officer at Blackburn Fire Station, said the actions of his crews prevented a disaster.

Six crews from East Lancashire were called to New Bank Road, Blackburn, at 11.30pm yesterday after reports of a blaze in a back bedroom.

A Fire Victim Support Unit was also called to the scene to offer counselling and advice to residents affected. Mr Gibson said none required hospital treatment.

Mr Gibson said the fire, believed to have been started by an electrical fault, got in to the roof space in the house where it quickly spread to next door.

Two more houses were damaged. All the occupants had been evacuated by the time firefighters arrived.

Mr Gibson, who was still at the scene today damping down, said : "When we arrived last night we could see the roof was well ablaze.

"The residents had evacuated themselves and our officers contained the fire from spreading to any more houses.

"It was a serious incident and I should think that the residents will be out for at least a couple of weeks."

Residents are living with friends and family until they are allowed back home.