Four people were rescued by firefighters in two separate house fires this morning.

The first was at 5am at a first floor flat in Ethelbert Terrace, Westgate-on-Sea, when crews from Margate and Westgate were called to a kitchen alight.

Two women were rescued from the property, one of them suffering from smoke inhalation.

Westgate Crew Manager Steve Wright said: “This incident could have been much more serious, as there were no smoke alarms fitted in the flat. I would urge all residents to ensure they have smoke alarms fitted on each floor of their home, as they provide vital early warning of fire, giving you a more chance of escaping uninjured.”

The fire is being treated as accidental and is believed to have started in a microwave.

In the second incident, fire crews were called to a house fire in Royal Close, Broadstairs at just after 7.30am.

An 11-year-old girl discovered a fire downstairs and quickly alerted her mother, but they and their Staffordshire Terrier puppy were trapped in an upstairs bedroom.

While crews were en route to the scene, fire control operator Caroline Spicer talked with the woman and gave her some vital guidance. She said: “The mother and child had no means of escape due to the smoke from the blaze, so I established which room they were in and advised them to keep the door closed. I told them to place some clothing or bedding at the bottom of the door to prevent smoke from entering the room, buying them valuable time until crews arrived.”

When crews from Thanet and Ramsgate arrived, they used a ladder to rescue the woman, child and their puppy, Missy, from the upstairs window.

This fire is believed to have been caused by an unattended candle that had been left burning overnight.

The property had severe smoke damage and the residents have had to be temporarily re-housed.