QUICK-thinking friends saved a young woman’s life when they rescued her from her smoke-filled flat.
Morgan Parkinson, 24, and Phil Spittle, 22, became heroes during the drama in Richmond Avenue, Accrington, early on Thursday morning.
Morgan, who was visiting his sister Chantelle Parkinson, who lives with Phil, went outside for a cigarette just after 2am.
As he left the building he saw smoke pouring out of one of the flats and heard a smoke alarm going off.
He said: "I phoned Phil from outside and called the Fire Brigade."
The pair met on the ground floor and got into the apartment through an insecure door.
Window cleaner Phil said: "There was thick, black smoke and we couldn’t see anything.
"Then we heard the young woman yelling. She was in the kitchen but she wasn’t with it. I think it might have been something to do with the smoke."
They helped the woman and turned off the over-heated cooker.
Phil said: "When we turned off the hob it was still glowing like fire embers."
The men helped the woman out of the flat and were met by fire crews as they got outside.
It took crews just over an hour to put the fire out but Morgan, of Belfield Road, Accrington, said he thought the kitchen was destroyed.
He added: "I don’t think it is habitable at the moment."
The woman, who is in her 20s, was treated at the scene by paramedics for smoke inhalation and taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital for further treatment.
Phil said: "I’ve seen the girl around the complex but I don’t know who she is or what her name is. I hope she is doing well though."
The crews believe the blaze started in a chip pan.
A spokesman for Lancashire Fire And Rescue Service praised Phil and Morgan’s efforts.
He added: "Their quick actions saved this young lady’s life. Generally, however, we would encourage people to always contact the fire service in the event of a fire."
