An early-morning blaze in Folkestone has sparked urgent safety warnings after a garden fence is believed to have caught fire by a carelessly discarded cigarette.
Emergency crews rushed to Westbrook Drive at 04:30 on Sunday morning following panicked reports that a perimeter fence had caught alight.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service deployed two fire engines to the scene, where firefighters had to don breathing apparatus to tackle the thick smoke. Crews successfully used main hose reel jets to suppress the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby properties, officially booking the incident as dealt with by 04:52.
While there were fortunately no injuries reported, fire officials believe the blaze was triggered by a rogue cigarette. The incident serves as a stark reminder to the public of just how easily dry timber can catch fire, prompting calls for smokers to ensure their cigarettes are fully extinguished and disposed of safely.