Fire crews at the scene
of the fire in Chatham Hill

A house fire that has closed a busy road all day was not an
arson attack, detectives believe.

The A2 Chatham Hill has been shut in both directions since
around 6am after the blaze broke out.

It caused rush-hour chaos this morning and there are still long
delays, with queues back into Rochester.

Fire investigators are probing the cause of the blaze, with the
road expected to be closed between Rock Avenue and Luton Road for
most of the day.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "A preliminary investigation has
been carried out and police do not currently believe the fire was
started deliberately, and enquiries are on-going."

Around 30 firefighters tackled the blaze at the junction of Rock
Avenue.

The fire was out by just before 10am and the number of crews was
scaled down to two by about 11.30am.

There are not believed to be any casualties at the derelict
property, but the house next door was evacuated.

Police diverted traffic along Rock Avenue, through
Medway Maritime Hospital and onto Marlborough Road.

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