FIREFIGHTERS were called to a blaze in Abingdon after being alerted by neighbours last night.
People living nearby saw smoke coming from the ground floor flat in Caldecott Chase just after 7pm. Two fire engines were sent to the scene.
Firefighters discovered the blaze had been caused after an unattended saucepan was left on the cooker.
They said the person in the flat was alerted by the smoke detector and put out the blaze before firefighters arrived.
The victim suffered minor smoke inhalation.
Watch Manager Dean Hazell, of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "It was definitely the smoke detector alarm that saved a life on this occasion, not having one installed and working could have led to a fatal outcome."
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