A WOMAN jumped from an upstairs window of her home to escape a fire which was raging below.

Her housemate managed to get down the stairs of the house and escape out of a back door with his dog, after smelling smoke.

The identities of the two people are unknown. The woman was treated for smoke inhalation and a burn to her foot, but was not taken to hospital.

Neighbours in Wardham Close, Daisy Hill, were woken by the sound of screams, and saw flames and thick smoke pouring from the house.

The blaze broke out at 1.20am yesterday and is believed to have been started by a candle or faulty TV.

The smoke was intense and spread into nearby homes.

Neighbour Adele O’Connor said: “I was woken by loads of screaming and shouting and I didn’t know where it was coming from.

“At first I thought it was very foggy, but then I started coughing and I realised that the house was full of smoke.”

Mrs O’Connor ran to collect her two children, but started to panic when she could not wake her 14-year-old son up.

She said: “His bedroom was full with smoke. I couldn’t wake him and I thought the smoke had got him. Eventually I got him up and we just ran out of the house in our bare feet.

“I was hysterical and knocked on a neighbour’s door and we stayed there until about five o’clock. It was the worst night of my life.”

Firefighters fought the blaze for four hours. Watch commander Andy Horton said it was made worse because the smoke alarms were not working.

He said: “This was a severe fire. People should fit and regularly check their smoke alarms. If you suspect you have a fire, you should get out of the house, call the fire service and stay out.”

The house has now been boarded up and the occupants, are thought to be staying with friends.

julian.thorpe@theboltonnews.co.uk