Man rescued in chip pan blaze drama

FIREFIGHTERS pulled a man from a smoke-filled house after a chip pan caught alight.

The 34-year-old is recovering from smoke inhalation at the Royal Oldham Hospital after the dramatic rescue in the early hours of Saturday.

He is believed to have been drinking when he left a chip pan on the stove in Mellor Way, Chadderton, at 2.15am.

A smoke alarm failed to rouse him but neighbours called the emergency services.

Firefighters Bryn Johns, Ben Dewhurst and John Morris forced their way into the property and hauled out the man, who was found slumped in the hallway.

Chadderton Fire Station watch commander Reg Haye said: “He had left a chip pan on and fallen asleep.

“He was taken to hospital as he had taken a lot of smoke in. He was quite poorly.

“People shouldn’t try and cook chips at 2am when they have had a lot to drink.

“Alcohol and cooking don’t mix. It’s better and safer to get rid of your chip pan and buy a deep-fat fryer.”

The blaze is under investigation because of the seriousness of the man’s condition.

It left the house severely smoke- logged and caused fire damage to the kitchen.

This morning, police said the man’s condition was not as bad as first feared and he appeared to be making a good recovery.

Neighbours said the house belonged to the man’s father but he was away and the son had decided to sleep there.

They claimed it was the fourth such incident where the man had accidentally started a fire through being the worse for drink.

Firefighters had saved his life once before by giving him oxygen.

They said he lived a chaotic lifestyle and did not have a permanent address.