Neighbours alerted the fire service when they heard a smoke alarm sounding in a second-floor flat in Soberton Road, Leigh Park, at 7.15pm last night.
The flat occupier, a woman, had fallen asleep while cooking.
A fire crew from Havant got into the flat via a second-floor window. They woke the lady up, who was not harmed, and cleared the smoke by 8pm.
A spokesman for the fire service reminded people of the importance of having a working smoke alarm and of staying alert while cooking.