A FAMILY today fled a fire that gutted their home hours before they were due to celebrate their son’s fifth birthday.

Martin and Clare Rusher had to evacuate their four children and an elderly relative when the fire started in the garage of their Tackley home this afternoon.

The family, who moved to Nethercote Close eight months ago, had been preparing to go out for meal.

Mrs Rusher said: “We are all absolutely devastated. I was washing up at about 1pm when I saw and smelled smoke drifting past the kitchen window.

“We ran outside and saw the garage was on fire and we shouted for everybody to get out.

“One of our neighbours called the fire brigade and helped get everybody out.

“But the blaze spread so quickly there was nothing we could do.

“You feel so helpless just standing there watching your house burn down.”

The house has suffered extensive damage, with the garage and one bedroom completely destroyed.

The fire spread to a neighbouring property in Chaundy Road, which was also badly damaged.

Mrs Rusher said: “We had eight people in the house, including Martin’s dad, because we were going out for our five-year-old’s birthday.

“The most important thing here is that nobody was hurt. Everybody managed to get out in time.

“It has been gutted inside. We are all still in shock.”

Mrs Rusher paid tribute to the emergency services and her neighbours for their help.

She said: “The firefighters have been absolutely wonderful.

“They all had a busy day yesterday at the Cherwell Valley Services fire but they were still brilliant today. They do an amazing job.

“We moved to Tackley from Hull eight months ago and it is such a lovely village.

“Our neighbours have been such a help, everybody has chipped in. There was a real community spirit.

“I suppose it is just one of those things and we should be thankful it wasn’t worse.”

Five engines were called out – two from Bicester, one each from Kidlington and Rewley Road plus one special appliance.

Paramedics and a team from the Red Cross also attended.

Both fires had been put out by 4pm.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Marcus Mabberley said: “The fire service was called at 1.06pm to an incident at a garage in Tackley “A salvage operation is in progress and roof tiles are being removed. An investigation into the fire is under way.”

dhearn@oxfordmail.co.uk