lcox@thekmgroup.co.uk

A family had a lucky escape thanks to their smoke alarm waking them up when a fire broke out in their kitchen.
Firefighters were called to a home in Priestfields, Rochester, on Wednesday night.

A crew from Strood was sent to the address at about 11.40pm and spent about an hour-and-a-half making sure the flames were out.
A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: “There was a lot of smoke in the kitchen, but because the family had an alarm in their home, it woke them at an early stage and they were able to get out.
“We managed to stop the fire spreading to any other parts of the house. There was smoke and fire damage to the kitchen but the rest of the house is OK.

"We think it may have started because of an electrical fault in an appliance.
“It always pays to have a smoke alarm fitted, as this case shows, it saves lives.”