A man has been treated by medics after a fire in a flat in Sittingbourne this morning.

Firefighters were called to Hawthorn Road at about 9am after a blaze broke out in the three-storey building, which is thought to have been caused by a cigarette.

The fire was on the first floor and crews had to use a ladder to reach people trapped on upper floors.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "We requested an ambulance to attend for a man in his 30s suffering from smoke inhalation.

"There was another female occupant trapped on the second floor flat due to smoke logging in a stair well."

The first crew arrived to find all but one of the nine flats in the building had been evacuated.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went into the building, while other crew members pitched a 10m ladder to the second floor flat.

"This fire highlights the serious consequences of not extinguishing cigarettes properly" - Neil Ryder, Sittingbourne watch manager

Sittingbourne watch manager, Neil Ryder, climbed up to speak to a woman trapped in her home due to the heavy smoked-logging in the communal stairway.

Neil said: "I asked her to stay away from the front door, to close the door of the room she was in and put something along the bottom of it to stop smoke getting in such as clothes, cushions or bedding. Also to open and stay by the window to allow fresh air in and that as soon as the fire was dealt with we would come and get her."

Meanwhile, the team doused the flames using a high pressure hose reel, then cleared smoke and fumes with a fan. The woman, aged in her 30s, was then brought to safety.

The fire is believed to have been caused after a resident in the first floor flat fell asleep while smoking. The fire caused damage to a sofa and surrounding items as well as severe smoke damage.

Neil added: "Fortunately the man woke when he did as the smoke alarm in his flat wasn’t working. The alarms in the rest of the property all sounded giving other occupants the early warning needed.

"However, this fire highlights the serious consequences of not extinguishing cigarettes properly. People need to be aware of the risks of smoking in the home and how easily this leads to fires. If you choose to smoke indoors, please make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly and that you have a working smoke alarm."

Police and the ambulance service were also sent to the scene.

A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman said: "A man suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation was treated. He also had minor burns and cuts to his hands.

"He was assessed and treated at the scene and declined further hospital treatment."