A carelessly discarded cigarette is suspected of causing the blaze in the ground floor flat in Kilburn Close, Westleigh, on Wednesday evening.
Colin Orrell and Andrea Simm escaped the burning building as flames rapidly engulfed the bedroom and filled the rest of the flat with thick smoke.

Firefighters from Leigh were called to the address at 6.30pm to find the couple, both thought to be in their 30s, safe outside but the home well alight.

The bedroom was gutted by the inferno and the remaining rooms rendered uninhabitable by the smoke damage.

Watch manager Paul Sharples said: "The fire left a real mess.
Fortunately the flats are self-contained with no shared landings or stairs so there was little danger of the fire spreading.
"There was no need to evacuate the adjoining properties which were only very mildly affected by smoke.

"The cause of the fire is still under investigation but it does appear that carelessly discarded smoking materials may have been involved."
The council flat was rented by Mr Orrell and it is believed the couple are now staying at Ms Simm's.