A TEENAGER was rescued by firemen from a blazing house early today.

Julie Bailey was discovered slumped in a bedroom, overcome by dense smoke.

Firefighters arrived at the scene to be confronted by flames shooting out of a bedroom window.

The firemen rushed into the house, wearing breathing apparatus, and carried Julie, aged 16, who was in an adjoining bedroom, to safety.

She was given emergency oxygen and first aid treatment at the scene by the firefighters before being taken to hospital by ambulance.

Her mother, Christine Bailey, brother Peter, aged 13, and Christine's partner Cecil Waywell were all out of the house, in Malvern Terrace, Leigh, when firemen arrived, just after midnight.

They were in a distressed state and suffering from shock, sub-officer Terry Peers said.

The fire is believed to have started in Peter's bedroom and the possibility of an electrical fault is being considered.

Sub-officer Peers added. "Firemen faced very dense smoke. The fire was so fierce it reached a couple of hundred degrees centigrade and had peeled all the plaster off the walls."

He said a smoke alarm battery had been disconnected and warned people to ensure their smoke alarms were working.

"People can be alerted a lot sooner to a fire and there can be far less damage to property if a smoke alarm is working."

All four casualties were taken to the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan.

Julie was detained and her condition was said to be "comfortable" today.

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