The occupier of the house was treated for smoke inhalation at Altnagelvin Hospital.

Foyle District Commander, Willie Lynch, told the 'Journal' that the man was asleep when the fire started.

He said that the blaze began in the kitchen and occured at a time when fire crews were already stretched to 'breaking point.'

"Such was the high demand on our resources, we were forced to deploy two appliances not normally used for tackling fires, a turntable ladder appliance and a rescue tendor normally reserved for road traffic accidents to this emergency call.

"It was the personnel on these machines that rescued the victim and brought the fire under control."

These appliances reached the scene five minutes after command centre had recieved the 999 call.

Five minutes later more personel had reached the scene having been redirected from other duties in the city. In total 14 personel were required to extinquish the fire.