AN elderly resident had a lucky escape after the hob in their kitchen caught fire yesterday (March 22).

FIRE crews received a call from a careline reporting an alarm activation in Taunton at around 11.30pm.

Three engines (two from Taunton and one from Wellington), as well as an aerial ladder platform from Taunton attended the incident.

Luckily, the resident had already left the building.

"On arrival, crews reported on elderly resident self rescued from the property and that the fire was located on the hob in the kitchen," said a spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue.

"Crews extinguished the fire using two breathing apparatus, one hose reel jet, one thermal imaging camera, and one safety jet.

"The kitchen was 10 per cent damaged by fire and 100 per cent damaged by smoke.

"The fire is believed to be accidental."