TWELVE people were forced to flee their homes in two separate house fires today.

One woman was taken to hospital after leaping from a first floor window to escape the blaze at her home in Nelson.

And five people were treated in hospital following a fire at a Burnley home.

The first fire started at a home in Waddington Avenue at around 3am. Paramedics transferred a mother and four youths to Burnley General Hospital after suffering smoke inhalation.

They all managed to escape the fire through the front door of the end-terraced house after a teenage boy smelt smoke and awoke the rest of the house. The flames were so ferocious that neighbours were also asked to leave their properties while firefighters tackled the blaze.

Just an hour later, firefighters were called out to a house in York Street, Nelson where a family of seven escaped their burning home.

Paramedics in Burnley said one woman was taken to hospital suffering back pain after jumping from the window, but no-one else suffered injuries.

Firefighters said the blaze was caused by a chip pan.

Sub Officer Mark Woodward, of Nelson Fire Station, said: "Everybody was lucky to get out alive of these two fires as they were both very serious.

"At the first fire in Burnley, the blaze caused extensive damage to the whole house. Neighbours living next to the property were evacuated for a short time while we extinguished the fire just as a safety precaution.

"The hospital are hoping to discharge the five people from hospital later today.

"The woman who jumped from the window is believed to have suffered a spinal injury after she complained of back pains. She was detained in Burnley General Hospital. Two other people from the same family were taken to hospital but were later discharged."