KENT firefighters are warning of the dangers of using chip pans after a man was rescued following a serious fire at a flat in Ramsgate.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service received the call to reports of persons trapped by fire in Staner Court, just after 12.30pm on Saturday.

Ten pumps including an aerial appliance were sent to the scene and a flat was found to be well alight on the 11th floor. A man of around 50-years-old was rescued by crews using breathing apparatus and was removed to hospital suffering breathing difficulties and minor burns. No one else was injured.

It is believed that the blaze started in the kitchen after a chip pan caught alight. The kitchen was completely destroyed by fire and the rest of the flat was severely damaged by heat and smoke.

Watch Manager David Hudson praised fire crews for their hard work and professionalism in what he described as a difficult and challenging incident.

He also said: “This incident demonstrates the dangers of using chip pans and I would strongly urge the public to get rid of their chip pan today and switch to using oven chips. The effects of a chip pan fire can be devastating, as has been shown here.

“I would advise all Kent residents to ensure that the have working smoke alarms fitted in their homes and test the batteries weekly, to provide early warning in the unfortunate event of fire.”

Fire crews from Ramsgate, Thanet, Margate, Herne Bay, Westgate, Deal, Eastry and Sandwich attended the incident and firefighters used two jets, a dry-riser, a hydrant and a thermal imaging camera to tackle the blaze.

The fire was quickly brought under control and the last appliance left the scene at about 2.30pm.