FAMILIES from a 12-storey block of flats in Maidstone had to be evacuated from their homes after a major fire broke out on the 10th floor.

Firefighters were summoned to the blaze at Sunningdale Court in Square Hill, at 7.45pm last night after smoke was seen issuing from the roof of the tower block.

Initially only one crew from Maidstone reached the scene, but they quickly summoned help from Larkfield and Medway, after the severity of the blaze was established.

White Watch Commander Alan Stark said: “There was one flat well alight and the heat was very intense and the smoke very thick.

“It was a very difficult job for us. We had to go to the floor below to establish a fire-fighting bridgehead, and we also used an aerial turntable.”

Police were called to help evacuate tenants from the 48 flats and an ambulance was kept on standby, but fortunately neither tenants nor fire crews suffered any injuries.

That flat was severely damaged, with almost all the contents destroyed.

The tenant, who had been visiting a friend in another flat in the same block when the fire broke out, was initially unaware that the fire was in his home. He has been placed in emergency accommodation by Maidstone Borough Council.

Although the blaze was out by 10.30pm, other tenants on the 10th floor were also unable to return to their homes that night because of the lingering smoke.