A couple were lucky to escape their home after someone left an iron on.

Firefighters were called to the house in Princes Road, Gravesend about 6.40am on Friday as smoke filled the kitchen.

They used a thermal imaging camera to locate the source of the smoke, finding a hot iron that had been left face down on the kitchen floor.

It caused the vinyl flooring to smoulder and catch alight.

Thamesside watch manager Lee Murphy said: “The property was not fitted with a working smoke alarm so the residents were extremely lucky to have been alerted to the fire before it became more serious.

“Just three breaths of fire smoke can overcome an adult so I cannot emphasise enough the importance of fitting and maintaining smoke alarms on every floor of your home.”

He added: “It is also important that all electrical appliances are used and stored in accordance with the manufacture’s operating instructions.”

For more information on fire safety visit http://www.3breaths.info/ or call 0800 923 7000.