A woman and her two daughters who had no smoke alarms in their house had a lucky escape when a fire broke out in their home in Dartford.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service were called to Spring Vale South, Dartford just before 10.30pm on July 29.

The family were going to bed and when smelt smoke. They found flames coming from an electrical consumer unit in a cupboard under the stairs and left their home and phoned the fire service.

Two fire engine attended and watch manager, Dave Boakes, said: “The women had a very lucky escape as they had no working smoke alarms in the property.

"Had they been in bed asleep and not realised the fire was burning, it could have been a very different outcome this morning.

“Fortunately, the fire had spread to a water pipe in the cupboard which split, spraying water over the fire and containing it until we arrived. Had this not happened the fire would have been far worse and could have blocked their escape route from the bedrooms.”

Fire crews used a hose to put the fire out, a thermal image camera to check for fire spread under the stairs and carpet and a special fan to clear smoke.

UK Power also attended to isolate the electrical supply.