Dover fire crews have urged residents to make safety a priority after they attended two house fires in the area yesterday.

Just before 8.30am, firefighters went to a blaze in a 30-year-old man’s Oswald Road home.

The fire is thought to have been caused by an electrical consumer unit in the hallway of the two storey property.

The man, who was getting ready for work was alerted to the fire by his smoke alarm.

His ground floor was full with smoke, and he luckily got outside and called the fire service. The resident was unharmed.

Thick smoke

Later that morning, at 11.50, firefighters were called to a kitchen fire in a woman’s home in Reach Road, St Margarets.

The resident was in the lounge with her toddler and only realised there was a fire when she heard a smashing sound coming from the kitchen.

A glass light shade shattered as it overheated due to a fire on the halogen hob.

The kitchen was engulfed in thick smoke.

It is believed that the cooker had been switched on accidentally and had set fire to a children’s toy that had been placed on it.

After attempting to put the fire out, the woman got herself and the child out of the building.

Watch Manager Paul Mellett said: “The woman and child had a lucky escape, because althoughthis was a relatively small fire, it caused a significant amount of smoke.

“Just three breaths of fire smoke can render you unconscious..." Watch manager, Paul Mellett

“Just three breaths of fire smoke can render you unconscious, so if the fire had been allowed to burn undiscovered for longer, there could have been serious consequences.”

Crews ensured that the fire was fully out and fitted two smoke alarms in the house. The occupants were uninjured.

Mr Mellett added: “I cannot emphasise enough how important it is for residents to ensure that they have working smoke alarms fitted on each floor of their homes. As both these incidents show, fire can happen when you least expect it and smoke alarms provide early warning and can give occupants valuable extra time to escape.

"Without them, people are taking an unnecessary chance with their safety.”