A TEENAGER had a lucky escape when a freak incident caused a lighter to set fire to a pile of bills while she slept.

Firefighters were called to the incident in Lower East Avenue, off Skipton Road, Barnoldswick, at 12.50pm yesterday, after the 19-year-old woke to the smell of burning and rang 999.

Her 27-year-old brother was at work at the time and she was alone in the house.

Barnoldswick watch manager Mick Strickland said the cause of the blaze was thought to be cigarette lighters igniting paperwork in a storage cupboard.

Fire investigators found the remains of four lighters and said it was thought one was accidentally activated when letters on top of it pressed down on the flint mechanism.

He said: “This was a potentially very big job, it could have been smouldering for some hours in the morning.

“The female occupant was asleep upstairs at the time and there was no smoke alarm fitted.

“Luckily she woke up to the smell of smoke and got out.

“People should dispose of lighters properly because there can often be little bits of fuel left in the bottom of them which can ignite, as happened here.

“There were quite a few letters inside the cupboard which were all compacted.

“We would also strongly advise people have smoke alarms fitted and check they are working.”

Parts of the living room were damaged in the fire and there was some smoke damage to the rest of the terrace house.

Mr Strickland said that anyone concerned about potential fire risks could contact the Lancashire fire brigade’s freephone number, 0800 169 1125, to arrange a free home safety check.