More on KentOnline
A couple had a lucky escape after their carbon monoxide detector alerted them to a fire.
The terraced home in St Johns Road, Gillingham, did not have smoke alarms when a dishwasher caught alight in the kitchen at 1.50am today.
The suspected electrical blaze destroyed the dishwasher and damaged much of the kitchen.
Firefighters said the couple, thought to be in their 50s, only realised because the woman happened to wake up, smelled smoke and then heard the carbon monoxide detector.
Paul Nash, watch manager at Medway Fire Station, said: "They then did the right thing. They closed the door to the kitchen to stop the air flow and exited the building.
"Really it was quite a lucky escape, so we'd like to use this opportunity to remind everyone to fit smoke alarms and make sure they work."