A MAN was left with burns to his hands after trying to put out a blaze in his living room.

Firefighters are urging people not to try to put out fires them- selves but to dial 999 and evacu- ate the building.

The 29-year-old man suffered minor burns to his hands and right arm when he tried to fan the flames at his Ivy Grove Lane, in Harper Green, at 11.40am on Friday. He was treated by firefighters but declined hospital treatment.

The fire is thought to have started when an ornamental coal in the gas fire overheated.

It spread to the rug and then to a clothes maiden.

Tony McKenna, watch com- mander at Farnworth fire sta- tion, said: “Luckily the occu- pants had a working smoke alarm and were alerted to the fire.

“We would always advise peo- ple to evacuate the building and call fire services, not to try to put the fire out yourself.

“He was very lucky, it appeared to be just a superficial burn.