hrobinson@thekmroup.co.uk

An elderly man has been left homeless after his television caught fire.

The property in Fruiterer’s Close, Rodmersham, was completely destroyed by the blaze which broke out just after 2.30pm on Sunday.

It is understood the owner, Harry Whiskin, 79, was watching the set when it switched itself off and went in to standby mode. A puff of smoke then came out the back before the fire started.

The widower, who has lived in the house for more than 30 years, ran out of the front door and alerted his neighbour to the fire by banging on her front-room window.

At its height, six fire engines and 40 firefighters from across the county tackled the blaze using five sets of breathing apparatus.

Maurice Keeler, 68, who lives opposite, said: “You couldn’t see the house for all the smoke. It’s a good job he got out. We all had to move our cars so the fire engines could get in.

“The man had some gas cylinders at the back of his property for his heating so the firefighters had to move those.”

A spokesman for the fire brigade said a combination of factors meant the fire took hold quickly.

Mark Innes, watch manager at Sittingbourne fire station, explained: "The front door was open when the occupant left the property [which allowed more oxygen inside to feed the fire].

"There were also at least 75 video tapes in cases, paperwork and box files which are all fire risks.

"The front room was open plan so the fire went straight up the stairs and spread to a bedroom and into the roof.

"The stairs had burnt through so we had to put ladders up there to reach the first floor.

"Two thirds of the roof had gone and we were concerned about it spreading across the roof to neighbouring properties.

"We had difficulty getting into the roof at the back which had started to collapse so we got a jet in there. It was a really bad one. The fire had a major hold on that front room within a couple of minutes.”

Mr Whiskin, who has a heart condition, was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital, where he was kept in overnight. It is understood he is staying with one of his two daughters who live in Sittingbourne.

Laurie Coates, 65, who lives next door to Mr Whiskin, came home on Sunday night to find the house destroyed. He said: "There is a little bit of smoke damage inside my property but not enough to worry about."

Another neighbour Andy Littlejohn said: "I was out for a lunchtime drink when someone called to tell me. We could smell it as we were driving back. It was horrendous."