A "devastated" Whitney Houston fan suffered a double-blow after setting her house on fire in a candle-lit vigil for the star.
Anne Lomax had been playing the singer's records and saying prayers, lighting a candle in Houston's memory before going to bed.
But the curtains then caught fire from a candle flame and the blaze quickly spread to the TV and electrics in the property.
Ms Lomax, 53, was woken by her smoke alarms as the fire service raced to the property.
She managed to escape unscathed along with her three dogs while firemen put out the blaze, but the living room of her semi-detached house, in Hodge Clough Road, Oldham, Greater Manchester, was destroyed.
Ms Lomax said: "I had been sitting at the computer playing some music and saying a prayer for Whitney Houston.
"I was a big fan and I was just devastated when she died so I thought I'd light a candle. I was listening to her music and my thoughts were with Whitney.
"I had a little tealight on the window sill. I thought I had blown it out when I went up to bed but the next thing I knew the smoke alarms were going off.
"I dread to think what would have happened if I didn't have smoke alarms. I could have died.
"Everyone has candles these days but you don't realise how dangerous they are.
"People should be careful with candles. I really thought I'd blown it out, I can't believe the damage it has caused. It's devastating."
Three fire crews from Oldham and Chadderton Fire Stations were called to the house at 2.40am on Tuesday.
Watch manager Rick Taylor said: "The blaze quickly spread from the curtains to the TV and electrics in the house.
"It caused thick black smoke but thankfully they had a working smoke alarm which gave them an early warning. We also managed to rescue three dogs from the property."
Greater Manchester Fire Authority chairman David Acton added: "Candle safety is so important. Never leave candles unattended, whether you're using them to decorate your home or as a religious symbol, they can be dangerous.
"Remember to extinguish candles before you go to sleep and make sure the candle is standing up straight and is in a proper holder so it can't fall over."
WHITNEY IN PICTURES