A 68-YEAR-OLD woman was treated for smoke inhalation following a house fire in Blackburn early today.

The blaze broke out in the kitchen of a house in Fowler Height Close, Livesey Branch at just after 7am.

Two fire engines from Blackburn attended the scene along with a paramedic crew from Blackburn ambulance station.

The fire, believed to have been caused by a faulty washing machine which overheated, was out on arrival but fire crews used a ventilation unit to clear the house of smoke.

There was severe fire damage to the kitchen and some light smoke damage to the rest of the house.

The woman occupier of the house, who has not been named, was treated by paramedics at the scene for smoke inhalation but did not need hospital treatment.