A couple from Rochester is urging people to keep mirrors and shiny objects away from windows and out of direct sunlight after a fire in their home caused by a reflective vanity mirror.

The fire broke out in Sam and Michael’s home on St Margaret’s Banks when sunlight bounced off a vanity mirror and ignited the bedroom curtains. The couple, who were home at the time, were alerted by their smoke alarms.

Michael recounted the harrowing experience: “I was working in the office, which is directly under the room that 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, and screamed for Sam to wake up. We got out as quickly as we could and called 999 for the fire service.”

Two fire engines were dispatched to the scene, and crews used hose reel jets to extinguish the flames on the third floor. Fortunately, the family cat, Tigger, was also rescued.

Although many items in the bedroom were destroyed, the fire was largely contained due to the bedroom door being closed, which limited damage to the rest of the property.

Sam shared their disbelief: “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. 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: “Our advice now is 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.”

The Kent Fire and Rescue Service is echoing the couple’s warning and urging residents to keep mirrors and other reflective objects out of direct sunlight to prevent similar incidents.

How to Prevent Fires from Reflective Objects:

• Keep mirrors, glass, and other shiny objects away from windows and direct sunlight.
• Ensure curtains and blinds are closed or angled away from sunlight if reflective objects are nearby.
• Regularly check that smoke alarms are working and have a fire escape plan in place.