Dog believed to have started Gravesend flat fire
13 February 2013
Firefighters have dealt with a fire at a flat
in Gravesend – believed to have been started by a dog.
Crews were called to the blaze in a kitchen of a basement flat
in Pier Road at 3.10pm today (13 February) after a neighbour
spotted smoke coming out of a vent and raised the alarm.
Realising that the occupant was out and that two dogs were
trapped inside, the neighbour let herself into the property and led
the pets to safety, closing the internal doors behind her on the
way out.
It is believed that the fire was caused by one of the dogs
jumping up and turning on the electric hob. This is thought to have
ignited an item on top of the stove, which then spread to the
surrounding kitchen units.
Two fire engines attended the scene and crews wearing breathing
apparatus extinguished the fire using a hose reel. The hob and the
surrounding units were damaged by fire and heat, however smoke
damage was contained to the kitchen and hallway of the property,
due to the doors being closed.
Thames-side Watch Manager Vicki Brown said: “We never advise
anyone to enter a property where there is a fire, as the toxic
smoke can be deadly. On this occasion, the neighbour was extremely
lucky and her kind-hearted actions probably saved the dogs’ lives,
but at considerable risk to her own safety.”
For further advice on how to keep you, your family or a
neighbour safe from fire call Kent Fire and Rescue Service for free
on 0800 923 7000 or go to www.3breaths.info for further
information.
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