A puppy has died and a home has been left "completely gutted" by a fire.

Fire crews, police and paramedics were called to the blaze in Bower Lane, Maidstone by a neighbour just after 8am.

Three fire engines were sent to the scene.

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David Nolan, station manager at Maidstone, confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the blaze but suggested it could have been sparked by an electrical fault.

He said: “There was a house fire involving three floors of a property where initial reports were that a family was trapped inside.

Video: Puppy killed and house destroyed by fire

“Thankfully having extinguished the fire the family were out doing their school run. Only the family dog was inside who unfortunately passed away in the incident.

“We have spoken to the occupier and she is obviously distraught and being so close to Christmas there is an awful lot to get your head around.

“It may well be an electrical incident but we are not at a point to say for certain.”

A search of the property was carried out and all people were accounted for, but the puppy died at the scene.

Schoolchildren were stopped in their tracks as they made their way to morning classes and the road was closed while firefighters put out the flames.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "Firefighters were called to a fire at a two-storey house in Bower Lane, Maidstone.

"Three fire engines attended, as well as Kent Police and SECAmb. Crews used main jets and a positive pressure ventilation fan to tackle the blaze.

"Crews wearing breathing apparatus carried out a full search of the property, and all occupants were accounted for. The cause of the fire is not yet known."

Simon Heytens, a teacher at the Jubilee Primary School, was on the way to work at around 8am when he noticed the fire and raised the alarm with neighbours.

He said: “We couldn’t see anyone in the house and it was already unsafe to go near itthe house when I arrived.

“We were shouting to check if anyone was in the house but we couldn’t see anything. One of the neighbours was already calling the fire brigade.

"The lady that lived in the property house attached to the burning house was not waking up and we were knocking, ringing and shouting to get her out.

“Another neighbour went in telling her to shut windows and doors because there was a fire next door. She grabbed her dog and went out.”

Mr Heytens hailed those in the community who helped move cars to ensurefor easier access to the property for the emergency services.

He added: “Another neighbour went in telling her to shut windows and doors because there was a fire next door. She grabbed her dog and went out.

“We cleared the street of all cars and made sure that all neighbouring houses were empty and people were safe.

“We helped the fire brigade roll out the hoses and then left them to do their job.”
Police have confirmed the fire is not being treated as suspicious.

Police confirmed the fire is not being treated as suspicious.