A family with young children had to be moved from their home after it caught fire in the early hours of this morning.

Two adults and two kids were led to safety after an electrical fault at their ground floor flat, in Mercers Close, Paddock Wood, started the blaze.

The fire started in their electrical intake box and went on to spread to the neighbouring flat’s electricity supply.

Neighbour Christine Gordon took in the two women who were living in the flat above the family-of-four’s.

She said: “They are sisters and I took them in because they were told they couldn’t stay in their home.

“They don’t know if they will be allowed in tonight either. I’m told it was a fault with the main supply and the electric company needs to dig a big hole in their garden to get to the cables.”

Despite taking place in the middle of the night the presence of two fire engines did not go unnoticed.

Iris Wilson could see the drama unfolding on the other side of the road from her kitchen window.

She said: “I thought I had left a light on so I got up and saw the blue lights flashing.
“I watched what was going on for a little while but didn’t stay because it was too cold.

“It does make you a little worried and I do switch most things off at night, but it’s not possible to turn it all off.

“I have electric heating and I think everyone her is the same and you can’t be without that at this time of the year.”

Marlene Huettinger was woken up after the flashing blue lights set off her nine-year-old schnauzer, called Ziggy.

She said: “I didn’t notice anything until my dog went off so I don’t know what happened.

“At 2am the firemen put a fire safety leaflet through the door which set her off again. I think it was a bit off to put it through the door at that time.”

Prior to the fire crews arrival advice was given over the phone to help keep the family safe.

When firefighters arrived they used a thermal imaging camera to find the fire, which they quickly extinguished.

Other members of the crew wearing breathing apparatus took the family to safety.

Crews then checked that the fire had not spread to neighbouring properties and worked with UK Power Networks electrical safety engineers to make the scene safe.
There were no reported injuries.