A man was taken to hospital after a serious kitchen fire in Colby.

Fire crews faced flames coming out of the kitchen window when they arrived at the property in Ballakillpheric and there was severe smoke logging throughout the rest of the house.

Six officers wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and the blaze was quickly brought under control using a high pressure hose reel.

The occupier managed to escape before the fire crews arrived, but had to be treated at the scene for the effects of smoke inhalation. He was was then taken to hospital.

The kitchen was totally destroyed by the blaze and the rest of the ground floor was damaged.

Officers say the cause of the fire was a pan left on the hob and they are reminding people about the dangers of leaving chip pans unattended and the importance of having a working smoke alarm.

The alarm was raised just before 8pm yesterday.

(Picture: Accident and emergency at Noble's Hospital).