A FIRE chief today told how a man could have been killed in a blaze if it wasn't for his smoke alarm.

Sub Officer Nigel Boden said crews were called to a first-floor flat in Bury Road, Rawtenstall, at 11.13pm yesterday.

The blaze started when the owner attempted to cook some supper before falling asleep.

Peter Askew, 38, was taken to Fairfield Hospital, Bury, suffering the effects of smoke inhalation. A woman from the flat next door was checked by paramedics at the scene.

All rooms in the flat were damaged by smoke.

Sub Officer Boden said: "The man had attempted to make some food after a night out, which is a disastrous combination.

"We see this time and time again when people forget and just fall asleep. This man was very lucky to get out alive. If it hadn't have been for his smoke alarm alerting him to the fire then I think we would have been carrying him out of the flat."