A smoke alarm has saved a person's life in a Christchurch house fire this week

Fire crews were called to the blaze in St Albans about 4.30 on Monday morning.

The sole occupant was woken by their smoke alarm - giving enough time to escape and call 111.

Specialist fire investigator Bruce Irvine says without the alarm - the fire was likely to have been fatal.

He says the person suffered smoke inhalation and treated in hospital.

An electrical fault in a light fitting was found to be the cause of the blaze.