Four fire engines and a specialist height vehicle were scrambled to Tenterden High Street this afternoon following reports of a chimney fire at a commercial property.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) confirmed they were called at 16:28 on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, to tackle the blaze. Firefighters swiftly deployed specialist chimney gear to bring the flames under control, with the incident officially closed at 18:02. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries as a result of the incident. KFRS believes the cause of the fire was a build-up of soot within the chimney flue.
The emergency was first raised thanks to working smoke alarms in the building, which alerted occupants to the danger.
KFRS Safety Warning…
A spokesperson for KFRS issued a timely reminder to the public as the cold weather approaches:
“As the cold winter weather sets in, crews are reminding everyone to make sure their chimneys are thoroughly swept before using, especially after a long period without use.”
The Service also stressed the critical importance of home safety equipment.
“Smoke alarms saved the day at this incident,” the spokesperson added.
“We are also reminding everyone to have at least one smoke detector on each floor of their home and to test it at least once a week.”
The swift action of the fire crews from the Ashford station ensured the fire was contained to the chimney, preventing significant damage to the commercial premises.