A PENSIONER was said to be “extremely lucky” after escaping from his smoke-filled home in the early hours of the morning.

The 86-year-old man, who is partially- sighted, was alerted by a smoke alarm which sounded shortly after 4am on Saturday.

He called the emergency services and left his terraced house in Deane.

Smoke was pouring from the house as crews from Bolton Central and Bolton North fire stations arrived to tackle the blaze.

They used breathing apparatus and other specialist equipment, and evacuated residents from neighbouring properties.

A woman living nearby, who did not want to be named, said: “There was smoke billowing from the house. There was masses and masses of smoke. It was really frightening.

“There were fire engines here and an ambulance.”

A man who had to evacuate his home said: “I was woken up by the smoke. I saw all the fire engines outside and then firefighters knocked on the front door and told us go outside.”

The fire is believed to have started when a towel was left on top of the oven, with the hob accidentally switched on.

The kitchen was badly damaged, with extensive smoke damage through the rest of the two-storey house.

Paramedics treated the man, who has not been named, for superficial burns to his left hand and smoke inhalation, and he was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Marc Murray, crew manager at Bolton Central, said: “He was extremely lucky. I spoke to the man in the ambulance and he said he was already awake, but it was the smoke alarm which alerted him to the fire.

“He hadn’t used the cooker at all that day, but it must have been knocked on accidentally.”

He also urged residents to consider where they park their cars, as vehicles had been double-parked in the street and it was difficult for firefighters to get to the house.