A TEENAGE boy is lucky to be alive after his bedroom set alight from a candle he had left burning in the night.
The boy, who has not been identified, climbed to safety from the window of his attic bedroom at 10.55pm on Tuesday.
He waited on an extension roof until the Fire Brigade arrived and officers used an aerial platform to rescue him.
Hyndburn Fire Station watch manager Alistair McLean said there was no smoke detector inside the house on Blackburn Road, Accring-ton.
Firefighters believe that the boy was woken by his parents who had smelled smoke.
Mr McLean added: "It’s a very, very lucky situation. Most people don’t wake up when inhaling smoke so this could easily have been a fatality."
The upstairs of the house has been gutted by the blaze and a destroyed mattress had been left outside the front door on Wednesday morning. Two ground floor rooms had been damaged by water as fire crews battled to extinguish the flames.
Three fire engines were called to the scene and officers wearing breathing apparatus entered the house to rescue the boy.
A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "We could see smoke coming out of the front windows and out of the chimney. There were a lot of firemen and police cars about."
Mr McLean said he urged people to ensure they have a working smoke detector in their home.
He added: "Candles can be very dangerous. If used correctly they are not a problem but everyone needs to make sure that they are put out properly before they fall asleep.
"If anyone hasn’t got a smoke detector then we can fit one for free. There really is no excuse."
For more information on how to get a free home fire safety check ring 0800 169 1125.
