FIREFIGHTERS found a man asleep on the settee as fire swept through the kitchen of his home in Abel Street, Burnley.

They were called shortly after 1.30am today and found that a chip pan fire had caused severe damage to the kitchen extension.

Sub officer Phil Driver said: "There was a man still asleep on the settee. He was rather surprised to find us there."

There was no smoke detector in the house but the occupant was protected by the kitchen door being closed, holding back the smoke.

Paramedics attended but he declined treatment.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.