kmilanian@thekmgroup.co.uk

A teenager and his family had a lucky escape when a fire broke out after a candle was left unattended.

Firefighters from Medway sent two pumps to the house in Britton Street at about 6.30am this morning, Friday July 3.

A spokesman for the service said the house had two smoke alarms but one had been taken down and another had no batteries.

Although there was no fire, a candle in the bedroom of a 16-year-old boy had melted down and set light to papers left nearby.

The spokesman said the candle was not left in a receptacle and had melted onto the surface of shelves above a television.

The boy was treated by ambulance crews for smoke inhalation but nobody else was injured in the fire.

A spokesman said: "Luckily they woke up and were about to get up when they noticed the smoke.

"I told them that if it had been three o'clock in the morning it might have been slightly different.

"The first message is don't use candles, if you do then make sure they have some sort of receptacle to go in.

"Secondly, if you have smoke alarms fitted make sure you test them once a month and do not remove the batteries without replacing them immediately."

The bedroom suffered smoke damage in the incident.

For safety advice or to have a smoke alarm fitted call the fire and rescue service on 0800 923 7000.