Firefighters have praised quick-thinking neighbours and a working smoke alarm after they prevented a house fire caused by exploding eggs in Rochester.

A crew were called to Warren Wood Road after a pan of eggs were left on a stove.

The pan they were in had boiled dry, causing the eggs to explode, which created thick smoke.

Neighbours heard a smoke alarm from inside the house and went to investigate.

They saw heavy smoke in the ground floor of the property, coming from the kitchen. They called 999 before entering the house through the back door and took the pan off the stove.

When firefighters arrived the smoke had started to clear.

Rochester crew manager Darryl Spicer said: “This incident highlights just how vital it is to have working smoke alarms fitted on each floor of your home to provide early warning of a fire.

“Even if you are out, there’s a chance that the alarm will alert a neighbour or a passer-by. Without a working smoke alarm and the swift actions of the neighbours in calling 999 this incident could have been far more serious.

“Over half the domestic fires KFRS attends start in the kitchen and it is very easy to get distracted while cooking, so we are reminding residents to make sure they keep their eye on their cooking at all times and switch off their cooking appliances after use.”

The incident happened at around 1.45pm yesterday.