A family was forced to flee their burning home after an attempt to rid a house of bedbugs went horribly wrong.

The fire broke out early Wednesday morning at the house in Columbus, Ohio after a child accidentally set alight a couch while trying to kill the insects.

Father Fred Horne explained how the house caught fire to 10TV: 

"We sprayed the couch earlier but, uh, some alcohol you buy from the drug store which kills them on contact, and he was chasing one down with a lighter and the couch catch fire."

The family then tried to push the burning couch through the front door, where it became jammed, causing the rest of the wooden structure to catch fire.

None of the three adults and three children inside were harmed, and the family is currently receiving support from neighbours.