The blaze at Greenups Terrace, Sowerby Bridge, trapped Donna Green and sons Joe, 10, Jake, eight, and Kian, two, in one of the bedrooms.
Smoke billowed through the house after fire took hold in the kitchen at 1.50am today (Tuesday).

The father – a night worker – was not in the house. According to rescuers, the mother and her children were lucky to get out alive.

Halifax watch manager Peter Rushby said smoke alarms had alerted Mrs Green, who got the family into a bedroom and stuffed the door with bedding to keep the smoke out as it billowed upstairs.

He said: "All the time she was talking to us on a mobile phone.

"We were there in minutes – we knew how serious it was. It is the smoke that kills you."

More than 15 firefighters from Halifax and Elland attended, breaking down the front door and carrying the family to safety through the bedroom window and down the ladder.

Mr Rushby said: "The kids were very upset but quiet. Everything was happening round them so fast, but their mum did an excellent job.

"The dad was working. What happened in that house is every father's worst nightmare."

Mrs Green constantly spoke to firefighters during the ordeal and it was said her advice, coupled with smoke alarms fitted during the Courier Safe and Sound campaign in 2004, that saved their lives.

The family were taken to Calderdale Royal Hospital as a precautionary measure for smoke inhalation but have since been discharged.

They are now staying with neighbours.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated but is believed to have started around the cooker.

Neighbours described smoke billowing from the house so heavily it filled their homes as well.

Gail Beman, whose daughter Alice, 10, regularly plays with the children, said: "We started hearing something when we were in bed.

"I thought the little boy had just woken up crying and we could hear banging on the walls.

"But then my husband said he heard someone shouting for help.

"We got dressed and went downstairs.

"You could just see blue lights flashing, smoke everywhere, and the house's smoke alarm going off.

"It was very dramatic. You could smell the smoke all through our house.

"I am just pleased they are all okay. They are a lovely family."