A loud “explosion” which caused a bungalow to go up in flames has now been cleared.

Four fire engines were sent to battle the blaze at a property in Preston Hall Gardens, Warden yesterday morning (August 29).

However crews have now left the scene.

Stephen Mina-Jones shot out of bed after hearing a bang at around 1.50am.

The 36-year-old said: “I heard a loud explosion and looked out the window to see the house across the road on fire.

“At that stage it was clear the bungalow was at a point where it wasn’t going to be saved.

“I called the fire brigade and noticed the two homes next to the fire had no lights on so myself, my partner and my housemate went to alert our neighbours about what was happening.”

Stephen, a customer service worker who has lived on the Island for two and a half years, said two police cars arrived after Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

He continued: “There was no way the house could be saved at that point so it was all about ensuring the other houses nearby didn’t go up either.

“The fire was so intense that the ambers in the air could have set the other homes on fire but luckily the wind died down and the risk was less serious.”

Stephen said the emergency crews were doing temperature checks on nearby buildings to ensure they weren’t at risk.

Fire crews had left the scene by 9am on Tuesday.

Engineers from the gas company SGN were then on site making sure pipes were turned off.

Stephen continued: “I think the bungalow was a project house owned by someone from Rainham I believe.

“They’ve only just bought the property so no one has a contact number for them.

“Luckily no one was living there and no one was hurt.

“We knocked on the nearby houses and everyone got out, their main priority was getting their pets.”

However, at 9.20am this morning Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) issued a smoke warning advising residents can now open their windows and doors following the fire.

The cause of the inferno remains unknown, although no injuries have been reported.

The police and SGN were also been contacted for comment.