A family had to be treated for the effects of breathing in smoke after a fire broke out in the bedroom of their home on Sunday night March 8.

The blaze, the cause of which is under investigation, has also prompted firefighters to issue a safety warning after the homeowners ran back into the properly to rescue their pets.

The fire started in a first-floor bedroom at about 8.45pm at the family home in North Road, Cliffe.
A man and a woman both in their 50s and their two teenage sons had got out of their home after discovering the fire but it is understood at least one of them ran back to the property to try and save their two cats.

A crew from Strood used breathing apparatus to put out the fire and then used a ventilation fan to clear smoke from the property and spent an hour at the scene.

The parents and their sons were taken to hospital as a precaution,and firefighters said their cats were rescued from inside unharmed.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Our advice is never go back into the house after fleeing a fire.
“Cats are remorseful creatures and will usually find a place of safety away from the flames.

“We would also remind motorists to think about how they park in residential streets as it was difficult for us to get access to the road as there were so many vehicles parked inconsiderately.

“It delayed our response time so I would urge people to think about leaving enough room for emergency vehicles when they are parking.”

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