Whitney tribute sparks blaze

An Oldham Whitney Houston fan lit a candle in memory of the pop star — and set fire to her house.

Fan Anne Lomax (53) woke up to the sound of her smoke alarm and found the front room at the semi-detached house in Hodge Clough Road, Sholver, destroyed by fire.

Three crews from Oldham and Chadderton Fire Stations were called to the house at 2.40am on Tuesday.

Watch manager Rick Taylor said: “The blaze quickly spread from the curtains to the TV and electrics in the house.

“It caused thick black smoke but thankfully they had a working smoke alarm which gave them an early warning. We also managed to rescue three dogs.”

Ms Lomax said: “I had been sitting at the computer playing some music and saying a prayer for Whitney Houston. I was a big fan and I was just devastated when she died, so I thought I’d light a candle.

“I had a little tealight on the window sill. I thought I had blown it out when I went up to bed but the next thing I knew the smoke alarms were going off. I dread to think what would have happened if I didn’t have smoke alarms. I could have died.

“Everyone has candles these days, but you don’t realise how dangerous they are. I really thought I’d blown it out, I can’t believe the damage it has caused.”