On the 14th of May, Andy was watching television with his daughter when his smoke alarm in the hallway went off. His daughter went to investigate, believing it was a false alarm, until she saw “sheets of flames” coming from the basement door.

Following this terrifying experience, Andy has praised Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) and is now encouraging everyone in the county to understand the importance of having working smoke alarms at home.

“Having a smoke alarm saved our lives,” Andy explains.

It alerted us, and when we realised there was a fire, we left the house and dialled 999 for the fire department, who arrived quickly and put out the fire.” They were fantastic.

The fire, which was started by an electrical battery, nearly destroyed Andy’s basement and his belongings, with extensive smoke and soot damage affecting the rest of the house. However, firefighters said that if the smoke alarm hadn’t alerted them in the early stages of the fire, things would have been much worse.

We’ve lost a lot, including some sentimental items,” Andy says, “but the most important thing is that we’re alive.

“Having smoke alarms gave us that extra bit of time to get out before the toxic fumes overwhelmed us.”

“If you don’t have smoke alarms at home, you really need them; without them, you could put yourself in danger if there’s a fire.” When you hear the smoke alarm, don’t fight it, don’t even think about it – just go outside and dial 999. All you can think about is ‘that’s my stuff,’ but everything is replaceable, and the most important thing is to stay safe. So, if you hear a smoke alarm, simply go outside.”

Leanne McMahon, KFRS Area Manager of Customer and Building Safety, states:

If there is a fire in your home, a smoke alarm will alert you immediately, giving everyone time to escape.” Smoke alarms are inexpensive, widely available in most high-street stores, supermarkets, and home improvement stores, and are simple to install and maintain.

You can protect your family at home by installing smoke alarms on each floor of your home and testing them once a week.” You should always place them where you can hear them throughout the house – at least one alarm on each level is recommended.

The Kent Fire and Rescue Service offers free advice on installing smoke alarms in the home. If you require assistance,