Family Left Homeless After Devastating Blaze Destroys Kent Home
A family in Mereworth, Kent, were left homeless with nothing but the clothes on their backs after a fierce late-night fire tore through their home while they slept.
The couple managed a narrow escape thanks to alert neighbours who raised the alarm just after midnight on Sunday.
Massive Fire Response at The Street, Mereworth
Kent Fire and Rescue Service scrambled four fire engines from Tunbridge, Maidstone, Rochester, and Larkfield, along with a specialist aerial ladder, to battle the flames at the two-storey property on The Street.
The first crew arrived to find the house fully engulfed. “The fire had spread quickly, ripping through the first floor and reaching the roof,” a fire officer said. Firefighters in breathing apparatus fought the blaze with two main jets, hose reels, and hydrant water.
Injuries, Rescue, and On-Scene Support
- One adult suffered burns; two adults and a child were treated for smoke inhalation.
- All victims were handed over to SECAmb paramedics at the scene.
- Firefighters rescued two cats trapped inside the burning home.
- British Red Cross volunteers provided support to the shocked family, who have lived in the village for over ten years.
Investigation Underway as Road Remains Closed
The fire is believed to have started in a first-floor bedroom, but its exact cause is still under investigation.
The road remains shut in both directions while firefighters finish their work and investigators comb the scene.
Kent Fire and Rescue confirmed: “Fire crews were called to a house fire in The Street in Mereworth, near Maidstone. Four fire engines, a height vehicle and KFRS’ Volunteer Response Team attended.”
