SAFETY-conscious firefighters are calling on people to keep a spare key to protect their lives.

The call came after Burnley firemen were unable to get into a house because the occupier could not find the key for the mortice lock on the front door.

Station officer Nigel Clark said: "That sort of things happens with surprising regularity.

"We all know about locking up safely for the night, and most people think they would remember where they put the key.

"Unfortunately, if there is an emergency, like a fire, people don't always remember and it causes a panic because they are hunting for keys in jackets and handbags, in fact they hunt everywhere.

"When you think about it, it makes sense to have a spare key in a convenient special place so it can be used in an emergency."

The fire in Every Street, Burnley, began in a bedroom.

Said Mr Clark: "Somebody had been smoking in bed and set fire to the mattress.

"They doused the mattress to put the flames out and went downstairs to sleep. The fire started again because it was not out properly and that is when we were called.

"It just so happened that on that particular occasion there was a fire where it was a young bloke on his own. It could have so easily been an elderly couple or family with lots of children."

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