A FAMILY of five has been taken to hospital after a chip pan caught fire at their home in Darwen.

The three adults and two "very young" children suffered smoke inhalation following the kitchen fire at the house in Redearth Road.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The family had been alerted to to the fire by a smoke detector, something firefighters said was potentially life-saving.

Two men and a woman were given oxygen by firefighters at the scene, before being taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. Firefighters could not confirm if the children received treatment.

The incident happened at 11.15pm on Tuesday and it is believed two adults and the children were asleep when the fire broke out.

The adults managed to contain the fire and when firefighters arrived all members of the family were out of the house.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were sent into the house with a hose reel to ensure the fire was out.

The fire had damaged the cooker hood and there was smoke damage to the kitchen and other parts of the house.

The police were initially called to the scene, but the fire has been deemed accidental.

Darwen station watch manager Tony Keane said: “A call was received reporting smoke in a kitchen with a smoke alarm sounding.

“One of the adults had been cooking downstairs, whilst the other two adults and the two very young children were upstairs asleep.

“Three adults and two children had evacuated the house by the time the fire service arrived, alerted by a smoke detector.

"The three adults were suffering the effects of smoke inhalation and were given oxygen at the scene before the arrival of the ambulance.

“The fire was caused by a pan left on a gas ring.

“The fire damage was contained to the area around the hob. Although not a large fire it produced large quantities of thick acrid smoke.

“Smoke alarms save lives.

“You are more than twice as likely to die in a fire at home if you haven’t got one.

“A smoke alarm is the easiest way to alert you to the danger of fire, giving you and your family precious time to escape.”

To arrange a home fire safety check call 0800 1691125.