A CARELESSLY discarded cigarette started a fire in an Atherton flat which could have ended in tragedy.
A fire service spokesman warned of the danger of disabled smoke alarms, after Leigh crew dealt with the blaze in Keats Close at 6.30pm on Monday.
He said: "A carelessly discarded cigarette set fire to the settee and to some books next to it. There was a smoke alarm, but there were no batteries in it. If the occupier had been inside, he would have been struggling."
Four firefighters entered the flat wearing breathing apparatus, as thick black smoke billowed from the room.
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