A FAMILY home has been 'completely devastated' after a house fire.

Fire crews attended an incident involving a large fire in a house on William Street in Brierfield at 11am today.

Aqil Khan was at the home with his brother at the time and they escaped after the smoke alarm sounded.

It took firefighters two hours to put the fire out and make sure the property was 'safe'.

The family said it is believed the fire started in the freezer of the home.

Mr Khan, 29, said: "For 20 years it's been our family home.

"The house has been completely damaged.

"We think it started with a fault in the freezer.

"Once we heard the smoke alarm we just got out as quick as we could.

"The fire was huge and there was so much smoke.

"We're very upset about it all, it's come as such a shock.

"It has all just been so stressful, there's been so much emotion.

"Everything has been completely devastated."

Mr Khan's parents, who also live at the home, were away at the time of the fire.

No injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation.

Mr Khan said his father is a landlord who owns various properties in the area, and the family will be staying at one of those while work is carried out to repair the house.

Fire crews were still carrying out work at the house until around 6pm.

A fire spokesman said: "There was some damage to the ground floor of the house and fire crews were still there damping it for several hours.

"There were people in the house when the fire started but they escaped without injury."

Five fire engines and one aerial ladder platform attended the blaze, including crews from Nelson, Blackburn, Burnley, Hyndburn and Colne.