A MAN is lucky to be alive today after he awoke to find himself in a blazing bedroom.

The 35-year-old, from Pottery Lane, York, had been asleep for three hours before waking and raising the alarm.

Fire chiefs said smoker's materials behind a bedside unit were believed to be the cause of the blaze and they issued a warning of the dangers of smoking in the bedroom.

"Smoking in bed is definitely to be avoided," said Station Officer Cecil Pugh of York Fire Station.

"We cannot categorically say that this is what happened in this case, but smoker's materials found near the bed are likely to have caused this incident.

"This man was lucky to escape with his life and we would want to warn people about smoking in bedrooms and in bed particularly."

He added that the man was doubly fortunate as no smoke alarm was fitted in the house.

"If a smoke alarm had been fitted the man may have woken earlier, and we would urge other householders to get them. He was lucky, a few more minutes and he may not be with us today."

Another man, aged 47, was watching television downstairs at the time of the blaze, but did not notice the fire.

Updated: 13:06 Saturday, September 01, 2001