SEVEN people have been taken to hospital after escaping a blaze in a house. 

Two adults and five children managed to escape from the fire which broke out in the property on Avenue Parade, Accrington.

They were all taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation following the fire in the early hours of this morning. 

Three fire engines were scrambled to tackle the blaze after it erupted in the kitchen because of an electrical fault to the tumble dryer.

Firefighters spent almost three hours putting out the fire after arriving at around 1.45am.

The blaze caused severe fire damage to the kitchen and smoke damage to the rest of the house.

An eyewitness at the scene described seeing smoke coming from the house. 

They added: “I saw fire engines and the people in the house had all managed to get out.”

Another resident said: “I heard about the fire.

“There was quite a few people involved so I hope they’re all okay.” 

Hyndburn fire station watch manager Stephen Cheetham said: “We were called to a fire in a property in Avenue Parade, Accrington, quite a serious fire in a utility room.

“It was caused by an electrical fault to a tumble dryer.

“Three crews, two from Accrington and one from Great Harwood attended the scene at around 1.45am. 

“They used four breathing apparatus, a hose reel and a ventilation unit and the fire was put out by 4.30am.

“It caused severe fire damage to the kitchen and there was also smoke damage to the rest of the house.

“Seven people were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. They had all managed to escape from the house by the time fire crews arrived as they had smoke alarms fitted which alerted them.”

Mr Cheetham is now warning people of the importance of having smoke alarms and of turning tumble dryers off before they go to bed.

He added: “In this case, the occupants of the property had smoke alarms fitted, but the tumble dryer had been left on.

“The downstairs doors had been shut also which stopped the fire from spreading.”

An ambulance service spokesman said: “We sent two ambulances and one rapid response vehicle.

“Two adults and five children showing signs of smoke inhalation were all taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital as a precaution.”