A BLACKPOOL family escaped a fire which which broke out during the evening and gutted part of their house.

Husband and wife Troy and Vicky Pritchard were in their Thornber Grove home with ten of their 12 children and five other youngsters when the fire broke out just before 9pm on Friday, August 17.

A police spokesman said the Pritchards managed to get everyone out of the house, and three fire crews then quickly brought the flames under control.

The blaze wrecked the upstairs of one half of the property -- which is two houses knocked into one -- and caused smoke damage to the rooms beneath.

The family's pet bull terrier died of smoke inhalation.

The spokesman added an investigation has begun into the cause of the fire.