Leicestershire Fire and Rescue have commended a 12-year-old boy after he alerted his family to an electrical fire in their Ashby home. 

12-year-old Nicholas alerted his mother Jennifer Salter, grand-mother Carol and two siblings when he heard the smoke alarm. The fire broke out just before 9pm on 21st August and the family all managed to get out of the house safely with their cat. 

The fire broke out in the family home in Ashby (Photo: Leicestershire Fire Service)

Nicholas was also the one to call 999, with all on-call crews in the area attending the scene, including from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue, Ashby Fire Station, Swadlincote Station and Birstall Station, who provided an aerial ladder. 

The family, whose home was destroyed, now have nothing but the clothes they were wearing, are appealing for donations via a GoFundMe page to help replace essential items. 

Nicholas' two sisters are both severely autistic and found the fire to be extremely distressing. They are both very dependent on having their own separate safe spaces to feel secure and have lost all routine and sense of normality. 

A GoFundMe has been set up by Emma Dicken, Jennifer's sister, for the family to buy essentials and start to get back on their feet. 

In a statement published by Leicestershire Police, they said: 'A huge shout out goes to 12-year-old Nicholas, who acted quickly and bravely. He alerted his entire family after hearing the smoke alarms and event called 999 to ask for the Fire Service.'