A grandmother is counting her lucky stars after she managed to escape safely from a house fire with her five grandchildren in Samabula this afternoon.

Alumita Bose said the family had just sat down to enjoy their Sunday lunch when she noticed smoke coming from the top floor and that is when her husband ran to get her daughter who was asleep in the upstairs bedroom.

Bose said while it is sad to sit back powerless to save most of their household items, she is grateful that her grandchildren are safe and unharmed.