Up to 30 people fled to safety after fire broke out at a residential home.

It erupted in a third floor flat at Homefern House at Cobbs Place, Margate, just before 5am today.

The fire had been confined to the flat and the occupant, an elderly man, was brought out safely by firefighters.

While 20 to 30 staff and residents evacuated the building other residents further away from the fire stayed in their flats when it was deemed safe to do so.

Margate Fire Station crew manager Glenn Leach said: “There were no casualties and the home has a stay-put policy where it is safer for people to remain in their flats on such occasions.
“The crews worked well to get the fire under control.”

The fire, which destroyed the flat, was caused by an electrical fault.

Four fire engines were called out, two from the Margate station, one from Westgate and one from Ramsgate.