FIREFIGHTERS last night issued a fresh safety warning over the dangers of chip pans after pulling a man from a blaze in his home.

The 60-year-old was rescued from his first-floor flat in Cloverfield, in the Whinfield area of Darlington, shortly after 7pm.

Fire crews found him collapsed at the bottom of the stairs leading to the front door.

It is believed he fell as he tried to escape.

The man, who lives alone, was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and injuries sustained in the fall.

The extent of his injuries was not clear last night.

Andy Bruce, station manager at Darlington Fire Station, said the blaze started when a chip pan caught fire.

“It could have been a lot worse than it was,” he said.

“The gentleman could have died because of the smoke that comes off a chip pan.”

Mr Bruce said the fire service’s advice on chip pans was very simple.

“If you’ve got a chip pan, just get rid of it,” he said.

The property also did not have a working smoke alarm.

Mr Bruce said: “We had previously gone in and fitted a smoke alarm as part of general home fire safety work, but when we checked the smoke alarm that we fitted, the wires had been cut.

“Obviously, if he had had a working smoke alarm, he would have been alerted to the fire much earlier, and could have got himself out.”

Two fire crews from Darlington and one from Newton Aycliffe were called to reports of a man trapped in the fire at 7.02pm. By 7.12pm, the householder had been pulled clear of the blaze. The flat was severely damaged.

Mr Bruce urged residents to take advantage of the fire service’s free home safety checks.

He said: “We will fit smoke alarms free of charge, give advice on how to prevent fires, and on what to do if you have a fire.”

More information is available by calling the service’s community safety hotline on 0191-332-4222, or from Darlington Fire Station.