Kent office block fire caused by electrical fault

A fire at an office block in Kent was caused by an electrical fault, according to fire officers investigating the blaze.

The fire at the office block – located in Blue Town on the Isle of Sheppey – is believed to have started at around 3am last Monday (10th January). A total of four engines were sent to the scene after a passer-by spotted smoke and called the emergency services.

On arrival, firefighters conducted a search of the offices to ensure no one was trapped inside. They then spent more than four hours extinguishing the blaze and making the scene safe.

The building itself sustained heavy fire damage, as Sheerness fire officer Paul Ross explained:

“The damage was quite intense. There was 60 per cent fire damage and 40 per cent smoke damage to the first and second floors.”

Two businesses were affected by the fire, building contractor Astral and KRS Interiors, with the former taking the brunt of the damage. The cause of the fire has been identified by both business owners as an electrical fault, which could possibly have been spotted as part of a fire risk assessment.