A 32-YEAR-OLD man has been treated for smoke inhalation after his electric blanket caught fire.

Firefighters were called out to the flat on Dunoon Street, Burnley at 9.10am yesterday after the man was alerted to the fire when his smoke detector went off.

Sub officer Michael Hawke of Burnley Fire Station said: "We think the electric blanket must have overheated.

"He phoned us on his mobile and we got him out through the first floor living room window down the ladder.

"At the same time the crew went in and extinguished the fire. It took a matter of minutes to put out.

"The man had switched the blanket off and attempted to pull it off the bed, but the fire was still burning the bedclothes on the floor. The bedroom has been severely damaged by fire, heat and smoke. The fire was contained in the bedroom so the rest of the flat has just been smoke damaged."

The occupant was treated at Burnley General Hospital for smoke inhalation. He was not detained.