A neighbour has described the shocking scene as a devastating fire tore through a home in Herne Bay, leaving it completely destroyed.
Emergency services were called to Grand Drive shortly before 6:45pm on Thursday, 31 January 2025, after reports of a large blaze. Six fire engines and a height vehicle were dispatched, and crews battled the flames as thick smoke billowed into the sky. Police and ambulance services also attended the scene.
A resident of nearby Carlton Hill, was sitting in his garden when he first noticed an unusual glow in the distance. “I was sitting under my carport having a cigarette, and I just saw this light,” he recalled. At first, I thought someone was having a really big bonfire, but then I saw all the emergency services flying up Carlton Hill and Grand Drive and realised it was a house fire.
As the fire raged, authorities extended the cordon, blocking off access to the area. Colin, who went to check on a friend nearby, found that police had closed off the street by the time he arrived. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. The house is completely destroyed. It’s pretty much just a shell now.”
Firefighters struggled to control the blaze, which took more than eight hours to extinguish. The fire was finally put out by 3am, with the assistance of Highways teams and police, who helped evacuate residents and manage the scene. “Everyone was outside their houses in absolute shock because there was nothing anyone could do,” Colin added.
A man was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation, but no other injuries were reported. While the neighbour did not personally know the family who lived in the house, he expressed his sympathies and concern for their wellbeing. “I just hope everyone’s alright and that they figure it out,” he said, acknowledging the distress of seeing such a tragedy unfold so close to home.
The fire is not being treated as suspicious, and the cause has not yet been determined. However, the incident has sparked an outpouring of support for the affected family, with local businesses offering help to those in need.
The road closures in the area have now been lifted, and firefighting operations at the property have concluded. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
More news from Carlton
