A WOMAN has been taken to hospital after being rescued from a house fire.

Bronwen Steventon was rescued by fire crews from her home in Brewer Street, Maidstone, on Thursday at around 10pm.

Fire crews from Maidstone have conducted a preliminary investigation which indicates that the cause of the fire may have been a discarded cigarette.

Martin Hursey and David Twaites, from Maidstone Fire Station’s Red Watch, smashed in the front door and rescued Miss Steventon from her downstairs living room. Other crew members smashed in the top window of the house, to check no one else was inside.

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said she heard a loud bang just before 10pm.

“I thought it was a door slamming,” she said. “But my husband went outside and said it was a fire and that he could see the flames downstairs. He called the fire brigade.”

Miss Steventon was taken to Maidstone Hospital. The hospital said she was recovering and would be spending a few days with them.

Fire crews said a more detailed investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out shortly.