An elderly woman who had to be rescued from a house fire told of her terror after facing a room full of thick smoke.

Christine Mclaren today thanked the firefighters and paramedics for helping her after the early hours fire drama at her home in Charminster.

She had to be assisted from the smoke-filled property in Meadow View early yesterday after the chip pan cooking her late-night snack caught fire.

It has prompted a warning from the fire service about chip pan safety.

Mrs Mclaren, 75, who is diabetic, said she had taken her nightly medicine which causes drowsiness and after lying down on the sofa she "forgot all about" the scampi she had been cooking.

"The next thing I knew, the whole kitchen was covered in thick smoke. I didn't realise there was a problem until it was on top of me – there was smoke swirling all around me," she said.

She added she thought the pan had been left unattended for around 45 minutes. 

Mrs Mclaren said she managed to make her way to the kitchen sink but despite her best efforts could not get the window above it to open. 

"The smoke was going in my lungs and burning my eyes. It was very scary because I couldn't see anything. It was like a London fog," she said. 

She then made her way to the front door hoping to clear some of the smoke and phoned for the fire brigade.

A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said: "We received a call at 2.50am to reports of a fire in a domestic residence on Meadow View in Charminster where people were reported to be trapped inside the building.

"Two Dorchester crews were joined by a crew from Maiden Newton and they found a fire in the kitchen, caused by a chip pan."

The chip pan was removed and the property was ventilated by crews.

Mrs Mclaren said firemen helped her from her home and kept her warm in their fire engine where they gave her oxygen while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. 

She was given further oxygen by ambulance crews and taken to hospital to be checked over. 

"I want to say thank you to the fire brigade and the ambulance service for coming to rescue me, and how lovely they were to me," Mrs Mclaren said. 

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service advises against the use of chip pans but offered the following advice to help people using them stay safe:

  •  Never fill the pan more than one third full of oil or fat
  •  Never leave the pan unattended when the heat is switched on

If your pan does catch fire:

  •  Turn off the heat under the pan (if it’s safe to do so) and allow it to cool completely
  •  Don’t try and move the pan
  •  Never throw water over the pan – the effects can be horrific
  •  Don’t try and tackle the fire yourself – leave the room, close the door, get everyone out of the property and call 999.