FIRE chiefs say a family of five were lucky to escape with their lives after they were carried from their blazing home following a chip pan blaze.

Edwin Bury, partner Lindsey Anderson and their three young children were trapped upstairs following the fire early yesterday.

Fire chiefs said there was no smoke alarm fitted at the house in Browning Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, and that the blaze provided a perfect example of why fire safety was so important.

They are campaigning for more people to have smoke alarms fitted because of the high number of deaths in the county. According to the figures released by the Lancashire firefighting force there were 17 fire-related fatalities last year from 16 fires, compared with 23 from 21 blazes two years ago.

Station Officer Neil Ashworth, who led the rescue operation, said: "There could definitely have been fatalities in this case because there was no smoke detector in the house. This is a perfect example of the benefits of smoke detectors and the possible tragic effects of a chip pan fire. This family were lucky to get out alive."

Mr Bury called fire crews after he spotted smoke coming from the kitchen at just after 1.15am. The children, Ruth, seven, Rebecca, six and Daniel, three, were all asleep upstairs and Mr Bury ushered all of the family into the front bedroom.

Two fire engines from Accrington and Oswaldtwistle arrived at the scene just minutes after the call and firefighters carried the three children and then Mr Bury and Ms Anderson from the building.

They were all treated at the scene by paramedics for the effects of smoke inhalation and taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary but were discharged later.

Ms Anderson said she was too upset to comment, although she did say she was relieved nobody had been hurt.

Mr Ashworth urged anyone without a fire detector to buy one or call their local fire station for a free home safety check.