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Neighbours carry out fire rescue Neighbours carry out fire rescue
(about 5 hours later)
A mother and her two young children have had a "very close call" after being saved from a fire at their home. A mother and her two children rescued from a fire in their home, could have been killed, say firefighters.
A neighbour put a wheelie bin against the side of Abby Cahill's house, in Minster, Kent, and helped the family down from a first-floor window.A neighbour put a wheelie bin against the side of Abby Cahill's house, in Minster, Kent, and helped the family down from a first-floor window.
The blaze broke out in the lounge, but a mains-powered smoke alarm had failed and the back-up battery did not work.The blaze broke out in the lounge, but a mains-powered smoke alarm had failed and the back-up battery did not work.
The fire service said it could have been a fatal incident had Ms Cahill not been woken by furniture cracking. The fire service said the family only escaped because Ms Cahill was woken by furniture cracking.
"I cannot begin to express how grateful I am to my neighbour, Amanda, for coming to our rescue," said Ms Cahill. Crews were called to the blaze in Noreen Avenue at 0500 GMT on Sunday, but the family had already been helped to safety.
Not many minutes more and the occupiers would have been in serious difficulties, if not killed Chris Lawrence, Kent Fire and Rescue Service Watch manager Chris Lawrence, of Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This was a very narrow escape... not many minutes more and the occupiers would have been in serious difficulties, if not killed by the smoke.
Fire crews were called to the blaze, in Noreen Avenue, at 0500 GMT on Sunday, but the family had already been helped to safety. She [the neighbour] saved our lives Abby Cahill
Watch manager Chris Lawrence, of Kent Fire and rescue Service, said: "This was a very narrow escape... not many minutes more and the occupiers would have been in serious difficulties, if not killed by the smoke.
"The woman got her two children (aged 10 and seven) into her bedroom, they were all together at the front of the house, but she couldn't get down the stairs because the fire was too far advanced for that.""The woman got her two children (aged 10 and seven) into her bedroom, they were all together at the front of the house, but she couldn't get down the stairs because the fire was too far advanced for that."
Mr Lawrence said neighbours were alerted by Ms Cahill shouting for help from her bedroom window. Ms Cahill said: "The smoke was unbearable and I was lifting my daughter and son up to give them air out of the window."
Her screams alerted neighbours, one of whom grabbed the wheelie bin.
"She just jumped on top, stood with her arms up and I passed my little girl and my son out to her," Ms Cahill said.
"She saved our lives."
Smoke damageSmoke damage
The fire was believed to have been started by a candle, but it quickly spread to a nearby television and Christmas tree.The fire was believed to have been started by a candle, but it quickly spread to a nearby television and Christmas tree.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the house was heavily smoke damaged.Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the house was heavily smoke damaged.
On Sunday, Ms Cahill and her children were staying with her mother who lives nearby.On Sunday, Ms Cahill and her children were staying with her mother who lives nearby.
Mr Lawrence said the fire alarm failed because a pre-payment electricity meter had run out overnight, and the back-up battery was dead.Mr Lawrence said the fire alarm failed because a pre-payment electricity meter had run out overnight, and the back-up battery was dead.