A RESIDENT who popped out after putting a wash on returned to find firefighters hosing down flames inside a smoke-choked house.

Crews were called to a fire in Oxford's Falcon Close after a washing machine caught alight yesterday, and initially feared there could be someone inside.

But the owner had nipped out just half an hour before the appliance erupted into flames at 3.45pm, and arrived home to find smoke billowing from windows and the three fire engines outside.

Firefighters drenched the flames and prevented them from spreading from the kitchen, but the rest of the house in Blackbird Leys suffered smoke damage.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service warned residents that leaving electrical appliances turned on was dangerous. 

Watch manager Davies said: "Although the swift response and actions of the crews prevented the fire spreading further than the kitchen, the resulting smoke damage to the remainder of the property could have been prevented if the internal doors had been closed when the occupier left home."