A neighbour has described the shocking scenes after a devastating fire tore through a home, leaving it completely destroyed.
Emergency services were called to Grand Drive, Herne Bay shortly before 6.45pm yesterday, with six fire engines and a height vehicle battling the blaze as thick smoke billowed into the sky.
Residents watched in horror as the flames engulfed the property, with police and ambulance crews also in attendance.
Colin Manser, who lives in 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 said.
“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.
“I didn’t realise just how close it was.”
As the blaze raged, authorities extended the cordon further down the road, blocking off access to the area.
Colin went to check on a friend who lives nearby, but by the time he arrived, police had closed off the street.
The 39-year-old added: “I haven’t seen anything like that since I left Dartford.
“Fires were quite a regular thing there, but I haven’t seen something that big in a very, very long time.
“The house is completely destroyed. It’s pretty much just a shell now.”
“Everyone was outside their houses just in absolute shock because there was nothing anyone could do.
“I’m pretty sure the fire service had trouble getting the flames under control.”
It took crews more than eight hours to extinguish the blaze, which had been put out by 3am.
Police assisted, alongside Highways teams, while the fire service evacuated residents and worked to put out the flames.
While he doesn’t personally know the family who lived in the house, Colin expressed his sympathies.
He said: “I just hope everyone’s alright and that they figure it out.
“It’s one of those things I actually dread because not only do I have children, but I have copious amounts of animals in my house.”
The fire is not being treated as suspicious.
The ambulance service confirmed a man was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
As news of the fire spread on social media, offers of help poured in for the affected family.
Local businesses, including the owners of Family Kebab and Pizza—which suffered a devastating fire in 2022— posted to say: “ We are happy to help.”
Firefighting operations have now finished at the property and earlier warnings to avoid the area, due to road closures, have now been lifted.
The cause of last night’s fire has not yet been determined.
