Robert Mackie, 84, had no smoke detectors in his home because his family felt his hearing impairment meant they would be of no use.
It was only when neighbours alerted the emergency services to the blaze that Mr Mackie was rescued.
The family of a deaf OAP who had a narrow escape from a house fire has praised a new initiative to fit special detectors in the homes of vulnerable people.
Robert Mackie, 84, had no smoke detectors in his home because his family felt his hearing impairment meant they would be of no use.
It was only when neighbours alerted the emergency services to the blaze that Mr Mackie was rescued.