A KENT man is today in a specialist burns unit in west Sussex after a blaze ripped through his house in Gillingham.

The man and his son were woken up by chance as the fire took hold in their home in East Street at about 2.45am yesterday.

Although the father managed to escape unassisted, the son, who is thought to be 10 years old, had to be led to safety down a ladder from the front bedroom window.

Both were taken to Medway Maritime Hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.

The father has since been transferred to the specialist burns unit in East Grinstead. The boy has been discharged.

Fire crews from Gillingham, Rainham and Chatham attended the blaze, which they believe started in the downstairs backroom. But because of the severity of the damage it was hard to tell exactly how it began.

Station officer Mick Durkan said: “We have no better way of highlighting the importance of having a working smoke alarm than by incidents such as this. Only very narrowly did the occupants escape death, and as it is they have lost all their possessions and will not be able to return to their home for a long time.”

Mr Durkan added: “If a smoke alarm had been fitted there is no doubt that those inside would have been able to get out earlier and alert us sooner. "

Kent Fire and Rescue Service would also like to remind the public of the importance of having an escape route in place in case of fire in the home, to shut all doors at night and to never overload electrical sockets.

Frightened neighbours watched as firefighters struggled to control the blaze.

Karen Hallums said: “It woke me up about 3.30am. There were firefighters outside and loads of police and I just stood there watching it.

“I think the man and the boy are OK but they have been very lucky.”

At the height of the fire, firefighters estimated temperatures inside the house reached a searing 800 degrees.