Residents have lost their homes after a huge fire ripped through a block of flats.

Twelve families have been affected by the building blaze in Nursery Grove, Gravesend, yesterday (May 20).

Seven fire engines were called to the scene at the Moat Housing-owned block shortly before 3.30pm.

Some properties are smoke-damaged and others have been burnt entirely.

Mum-of-two Holly Standen says she believes the cause was due to a cigarette.

She said: “I smelt the fire before I saw it.

“I was just about to go and pick my daughter up from school, and I was stood on the balcony on the phone to someone, and I said, ‘God, it smells like someone’s having a barbecue’, and I had to shut my doors, because it smelled so bad.

“Then, a lady who lives underneath was on the field screaming my name, saying ‘Holly, Holly, are you in the flat?’

“You could see the fire on the balcony. By the time I got back, it was literally just engulfed in flames – there were firefighters everywhere.”

Holly added: “Not a single fire alarm in the building went off.

“If this happened in the middle of the night, and we’re all sleeping and no fire alarms went off, none of us would have made it out of the building.”

Several ambulances were spotted at the scene and were joined by police.

The fire service’s Volunteer Response team and officers from Gravesham council were also on site.

At the moment, the families are being put up in various hotels or are staying with loved ones.

Holly, who is currently staying at the Travelodge in Gravesend, says her home is only smoke-damaged but is afraid to return.

She said: “We're all terrified to go back in there, but they’re saying, because our side of the building wasn’t fire-damaged, they’re trying to tell people that they can move back in there.

“But, I don't understand how anyone can tell anyone to move back in a block when half the block is missing a roof.”

Multiple families with young children and newborns have lost their flats.

A fundraiser has been set up by Holly to help those who have had “everything they own burnt to dust”.

To donate, click here.

In the meantime, community members have been rallying to provide support for the families, particularly when the fire first erupted.

Holly said: “The estate have been amazing, we had people feeding our kids, looking after the children, coming up and giving blankets to everyone.”

Nursery Grove resident Suru Forster, 55, said: “I heard my neighbour shouting ‘fire’ and we ran out. I thought it was my house. I couldn’t see the fire, I could just see the smoke.

“It just went up. It was a matter of minutes. It is devastating. They have lost everything.

“The firefighters did a very good job. They were here all night and early this morning. I have to commend the fire service, they did well.”

Neighbour Ian Morgan, 60, added: “They came out screaming. They were shouting and ringing the doorbell to get out because there was a fire. It went up pretty quickly. It is a terrible shame.”

Lewis Sandhu was visiting his mum in Nursery Grove when he saw the “black smoke” outside as he was about to head home.

The 28-year-old added: “I could hear someone shouting to get out of the house. Luckily, no one was hurt; that is the main thing. It is sad.”

Sarah Howard said she was coming home from work when her neighbour called her to let her know there had been a fire at the flats near her house.

She said: “I have never seen a fire spread so fast, it was a tinder box pretty much.

“We are quite the community here, and everyone has come together to help.”

Other neighbours said they saw the residents running back into the flats to rescue their pets despite being told not to by the firefighters.

Marek Witko, executive director of housing and customer experience at Moat, said: “We understand this is an unsettling time for our customers and we’re thankful that no one was injured.

“All building safety systems operated as they should.

“We’re in close contact with all customers to ensure they are supported, and temporary accommodation has been arranged while the full extent of the damage is assessed.

“We’ll continue to provide ongoing support and assistance to them.”