FIREFIGHTERS have highlighted the importance of having a working smoke alarm after a washing machine fire.
Crews from Hyndburn and Great Harwood were called to the incident off St Huberts Road just before 1pm on Thursday.
A washing machine had caught fire at the house in Great Harwood and caused 'severe damage' to the machine and the kitchen windows.
The property was fitted with working smoke alarms which alerted a neighbour who contacted the fire service.
Nobody was in the house at the time and fire crews extinguished the blaze with a hose reel.
Acting crew manager Jonathan Ford warned how much worse the incident could have been if it did not have a working smoke alarm.
He said: "This incident highlights the importance and effectiveness of how having working smoke alarms within properties reduce the damage within a property as a result of a fire.
"Had there not been a working smoke alarm within the property, then this incident would have been far more devastating for the occupier."
Anyone who does not have a smoke alarm should contact Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 169 1125 for a free home fire safety risk assessment.
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