Man taken to hospital after Stourbridge house blaze started when he fell asleep while cooking

The 52-year-old is believed to have just finished a night shift and been preparing breakfast when the fire started around 10.30am on Saturday.

Neighbours in Hawbush Road, Stourbridge raised the alarm as smoke billowed from the kitchen.

Watch Commander Matt Young from Stourbridge fire station who attended with colleagues from Brierley Hill said: "He had put some food on the stove and gone upstairs where he fell asleep. He had just come off a night shift and was very tired.

"He woke to find the kitchen on fire and tried to tackle it himself until he was overcome by the smoke.

"He managed to get outside and we gave him some oxygen until the paramedics took over. He was then taken to hospital for a check up."

Mr Young continued: "It appears that the smoke alarm might not have worked properly.

"If he had been alerted earlier then the house would not have suffered considerably less damage."

The blaze gutted the kitchen and caused serious smoke damage to the two bedroom end of terrace property where the man lived alone.

Fire crews said they would 'discourage' him from continuing to live at the address until it had been repaired and were prepared to offer advice on alternative accommodation.

They were also planning to check that other homes in the area were fitted with working smoke alarms.

Mr Young said: "It is impossible to overstate the importance of this. We will fit one free of charge if necessary."