A family almost burned down their house while lighting insect repellent.

The resident spotted a parasite crawling on the wall and lit dried grass believing the smoke would drive the tick and any others away from their home in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

But within seconds the kindle spread to flowers arranged in a vase on a nearby table.

CCTV footage shows smoke filling the home before a mother rushes outside carrying a flaming vase, which she throws onto the front porch.

Her relative followed, throwing a bunch onto the ground. The fire did not spread further, but resident Natnicha Boonyong said it could have engulfed the property within minutes.

She said: 'We were only trying to drive away insects but we almost burned down our whole home. I'll use spray next time

'We have a lot of wooden furniture and a large curtain that could have easily ignited too. We will not attempt that again.'

No one was hurt from the incident, and aside from the broken vase, nothing else was damaged.