Authorities are crediting a chocolate Labrador with saving the life of a Sacramento man after it alerted him to a fire inside a home that appeared not to have a smoke detector.

Sacramento Fire Department spokesman Roberto Padilla said the man told firefighters he was sleeping when his dog Buddy nudged him and woke him up. The man saw a fire burning in a bedroom in the rear of the house.

The Sacramento Bee reported the man suffered from smoke inhalation and had soot on his face. Mr Padilla said the man did not recall hearing a smoke alarm, and firefighters had found no evidence of a working smoke detector in the house. He said the home had significant damage.