Bournemouth police hunt arsonist who set fire to Kinson home
Police are hunting for an arsonist who set fire to the front door of a family home.
The fire was started at about 03:00 GMT at a home in West Howe Close in the Kinson area of Bournemouth, Dorset.
A grandmother, 56, her two daughters and three-year-old granddaughter escaped after one of the women jumped from a ledge under a first floor window and got a ladder.
Police said the four could have died if the smoke alarm had not been working.
Dorset Police said the family were awoken by the smoke alarm and made their way to a first floor window.
One of the daughters, a 21-year-old, jumped from the ledge and got a ladder from a neighbour's house and helped the others to escape.
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said the fire had spread to the hallway and caused 20% damage to the property.
No one was injured and the fire was extinguished by 03:30.
Dorset Police are appealing for witnesses or people who know someone who unusually smelled of petrol or smoke.
No arrests have been made.