Neighbour rescues family from burning house
A mother and five children were rescued from their Margate home after a fire broke out in the kitchen.
Officials say that it is thought the fire started when an electric cooker was left on accidentally at around 2.30am on 29th September.
The mother and children were trapped on the first floor as fire spread from the kitchen.
A neighbour managed to break a small window with a shovel and help rescue the mother and children. The family were quickly taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.
The neighbour who witnessed the fire told the BBC: “We heard screaming and shouting and looked out of the window and saw black smoke billowing out of the bathroom window and a young lady screaming out. Me and the wife went out and had a good look and ended up smashing the window and pulling the children through the window. There were two of us. There was another chap. He was leaning against the railings where the little window is and the mother was passing the children out.”
Fire chiefs said it appeared a smoke alarm fitted on the ground floor failed to activate. This was probably due to batteries being inserted incorrectly.
Margate watch manager Paul Ward said: “While we would always advise people not to enter a building that is on fire, the man’s actions in rescuing this family were extremely brave and with considerable risk to his own safety.”