THE brother of murdered Eamonn McDonagh was rescued from a blaze which trapped him in his home while three children managed to flee.

Peter McDonagh, 28, was pulled from the flames of the semi-detached property in Foxstones Crescent, Blackburn, at 4.30pm yesterday. One of the children suffered burns to the arm.

All four victims were treated by paramedics and taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary suffering smoke inhalation.

Firefighters today said Mr McDonagh was lucky to be alive after being delayed by a malicious call at the other end of town.

The blaze came just days after his 17-year-old brother was found dead outside the Moorings, off Lower Hollin Bank Street, in the Infirmary area of Blackburn. Police have launched an investigation into the blaze and cordoned off the street for several hours but are not treating it as suspicious.

Firefighters believe the fire was started by a cigarette left on a bed.

Sergeant Terry Woods said: "It is clearly a difficult time for the family."

Sub Officer Tony Ashworth said Blackburn crews were delayed following a malicious call from a mobile telephone to Earl Street, minutes earlier. Darwen firefighters were first on scene.

"There were flames coming out of both upstairs windows when we arrived," he said. "The children had, managed to escape but officers with breathing equipment were sent in to rescue Mr McDonagh.

"A terrier dog was also brought out of the house but efforts to revive it with artificial resuscitation failed.

"At this stage we are not treating the fire as suspicious and believe the cause to have been a cigarette on the bed in the front bedroom."

The blaze comes two days after a 200-strong wake was held for Eamonn in the Ewood Arms who died from serious head injuries. At the time he was living in a caravan on wasteland behind the Moorings.

Neighbour Lynda Holmes, 52, called 999 when she noticed the smoke.

She said the caravan in which Eamonn McDonagh had been living had been parked near the house two weeks ago and that it had been a difficult week for Peter, known to his friends as Paddy.

"They were brothers so it is clearly a hard time," she said.

"It is the children I feel sorry for as it must have been terrifying for them to have been in the house."