Kuala lumpur: A family of four escaped unharmed by climbing onto the roof of a neighbouring house after a fire broke out at their double-storey terrace house in Taman Bukit Minyak here today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Penang Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations John Sagun Francis said they received an emergency call at 7.43 am and dispatched a team of firefighters and a fire engine to the scene.

'The house, occupied by a family of four including a four-year-old girl, was filled with thick smoke after a fire broke out on the ground floor. The occupants, who were upstairs, climbed onto the roof of a neighbouring house while waiting for firefighters to arrive.

'The victims, a 41-year-old man, two women aged 68 and 39, and the girl, were rescued by firefighters and did not suffer any injuries,' he said in a statement today.

He said the ground floor sustained about 30 per cent damage, while a Honda City car and a Honda ADV 160 motorcycle in the garage were also damaged.

According to him, the blaze was brought under control at 8.06 am and fully extinguished about 30 minutes later, with the cause of the fire and the total losses still being investigated.