Southborough flat blaze highlights danger of fire smoke

The dangers of fire smoke were highlighted early this morning after a television caught fire, resulting in two Southborough residents needing medical treatment for smoke inhalation.

Two fire crews were sent to flats London Road, Southborough, near Tunbridge Wells, at 5.12am to tackle a fire in a first floor flat.

Firefighters entered the two-storey building wearing breathing apparatus and tackled a fire in the lounge of the property, using a hose reel jet. They used a thermal imaging camera to ensure the fire was out and a positive pressure ventilation fan to remove smoke from the building.

The hard-wired fire alarm system in the flats had alerted residents to the blaze, and everyone was out of the property when crews arrived. However, a man and a woman, both in their early twenties needed oxygen therapy for the effects of breathing in smoke, after trying to smother the fire with a wet duvet.

They were passed to the care of ambulance crews for further checks. It is believed that the fire started in wiring to a television and had spread to nearby clothing. Fire damage was contained to part of the lounge and half of the flat was smoke damaged.