FIREFIGHTERS were forced to abandon their engine and run to a fire at a house in Worcester's Arboretum for the second time in a week because parked cars were blocking their way.

Crews were called to a home in Little Chestnut Street, 10 minutes after midnight today, after worried neighbours heard an alarm and thought someone was asleep inside.

Firefighters tried to reach the road by driving down nearby Chestnut Street, but cars parked on both sides of the road stopped the engine going any further.

"Three of us had to jump off and run halfway down Chestnut Street and down Little Chestnut Street," said Sub Officer Steve Laugher, of Blue Watch.

It was fortunate that officers were able to deal with the incident without the engine, because it was a small fire caused by a saucepan left to boil dry on the stove.

"We broke in, turned the cooker off and got the pan outside," said Sub Officer Laugher.

Firefighters had to bounce cars out of the way by hand to allow the engine to squeeze down the road.

But, by the time it reached the house, the fire was out and the person inside had been taken out.

Another engine tried to reach the scene via Northfield Street, but was also blocked by cars parked on both sides.

Sub Officer Laugher said the residents were lucky this time because it was only a small fire.

"This is the second time in a week this has happened," he added. "This is a problem for everyone down there."