FIRE chiefs have praised a teenager who saved his dad's life after a chip pan fire broke out at their home.

Christopher Dean, 16, woke up to find the family home in Burton Street, Burnley, smoke-logged just after 2am yesterday.

The brave youngster fought his way through the smoke to the lounge to find his father, who was not named by firefighters, asleep on the sofa.

Fire crews said he appeared to have dozed off after putting a chip pan on the stove.

Christopher woke his father and the pair made escaped from the house before firefighters, who had been alerted by a neighbour, arrived to tackle the blaze.

Fire crews said although Mr Dean had bought a smoke alarm it had not been fitted.

They said the blaze should serve as a warning for anyone who did not have working smoke alarms in their house. Sub-officer Nigel Clark said: "Mr Dean had put chip pan on and was making himself some food when he fell asleep on the settee.

"His 16-year-old son Christopher woke up because of the smell of smoke and managed to get downstairs, even though it was pretty smokelogged and woke his dad up.

"It was quite a serious kitchen fire with severe damage to the room. They were very lucky to get out.

"The man had smoke detectors but they weren't fitted, which would have given a much earlier warning of the fire.

"The young lad needs a pat on the back for what he did."

The pair suffered slight smoke inhalation but were not taken to hospital.

There was severe damage to the kitchen and smoke damage to the living room and staircase.