A couple had a “lucky” escape after sunlight “bounced” off a mirror in their bedroom and caused part of the room to go up in flames.
Sam and Michael were at home in St Margaret’s Banks, Rochester at the time of the “devastating” blaze and were only alerted after their smoke alarms went off.
Two fire engines were sent to the scene and crews used hose reel jets to extinguish the flames on the third floor. Crews also rescued Tigger, the family cat.
Pictures show the aftermath of the blaze which included various charcoaled items and a melted TV set.
Fire crews believe the flames started when sunlight bounced off a vanity mirror and onto bedroom curtains.
Michael said: “I was working in the office, which is directly under the room which caught fire, and I could smell burning, sort of like burnt toast.
“I checked my fan to see if it was overheating, went downstairs to see if anyone was cooking, and then I heard the smoke alarm on the top floor go off.
“I ran upstairs in a panic, screamed for Sam to wake up. We got out as quickly as we could and called 999 for the fire service.”
While many items in the bedroom were destroyed, the fire was largely contained because the door was closed – limiting damage to the rest of the property.
Sam said: “We’d only just redecorated the room a few days before, so we weren’t sure what caused it.
“When the firefighters told us it was the mirror, we thought how can a mirror do that? It’s not something you think of.
“Now we know anything reflective or shiny near a window where the sun hits it, could start a fire.”
Kent Fire and Rescue Service is now urging people to keep mirrors and shiny objects out of direct sunlight.
“We’re sharing our story to help keep others safe and remind everyone to move reflective objects away from windowsills and out of direct sunlight,” Michael added.
Michael added: “Our advice now just be careful and educate people in your household about the dangers.
“It’s one small preventable thing, that can have devastating effects. We were lucky.”
