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Firefighters from Kent Fire and Rescue Service responded to a chimney fire in the village of Ickham on Thursday evening in which two fire engines were dispatched to a house on Baye Lane around 4:22 pm.
Crews used specialised chimney gear to extinguish the fire and a high-pressure hose reel jet to cool the surrounding brickwork. The incident was brought under control in just under two hours, with no injuries reported. The fire is believed to have started accidentally.
Following the incident, firefighters are urging residents to have their chimneys and flues swept and inspected regularly before the autumn and winter seasons as a build-up of tar or debris like birds’ nests and loose bricks can catch fire, posing a serious risk to homes.