FIFTY people had to be evacuated from a flats complex as a chip pan fire raged.

Fire crews said that the blaze started when the pan was left unattended when the occupant left the flat for around half an hour at 4am yesterday (weds).

When the crews made their way to the Blackburn Foyer building in Princes Street, Wensley Fold, they were told that there were four people trapped in the building. But on arrival all had made their way to safety.

The first floor one-bedroom flat was badly damaged in the blaze.

Foyer manager Adele Travis said: "Chip pans are banned from the Foyer but this lad had created a makeshift one with another pan, put it on and wandered off into someone else's room.

"We will now be putting out another awareness message to avoid something like this happening again.

"Something like this could have been really serious."

Fire crew manager Simon Eardley said the incident showed the dangers of chip pans.

He said: “The flat was severely damaged by smoke and fire. The occupant put himself at risk and other people in the building.

“The whole complex had to be evacuated and there were around 50 people out on the street when we arrived.

“Our main message in these circumstances is the obvious danger that chip pans pose. They should certainly always be watched and never left alone.

“We would prefer that people did not use chip pans at all, but if they have to then to take extra care."

The Foyer offers supported accommodation for 16-25 year olds, referred from social services, the borough council housing department or the Lancashire Care Trust.

The complex opened in 2002 at a cost of £3.6million with the aim of helping young homeless people kick-start their lives.