Local News

Two families had to flee their homes within twelve hours of each other after fires in Rainham and Sittingbourne.

In the first incident, a bathroom extractor fan caught alight, quickly spreading to the roof area in Sandown Drive, Rainham. The resident was alerted just after 9.30pm last night (Wednesday 4th March) after hearing a loud bang. She went to investigate and discovered the fan had fallen from the ceiling into the bath below. She alerted her husband who initially tried to tackle the blaze using water from the shower with little success.

The couple and their young child got out of their home and called Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS). Three fire engines were sent to the semi-detached house, the first crew arrived within six minutes of receiving the 999 call.

Medway Watch Manager, Paul Nash, told SFM News: "Many of us use the loft for storage and this family had a number of cardboard boxes and other items stored there which fuelled the fire. Fortunately, we were able to stop it spreading to the neighbouring property and limited the damage to the roof area, so it was a good outcome."

Crews in breathing apparatus used a hose reel and specialist cold-cutting firefighting system, which is able to cut its own access point to the fire using high pressure water and abrasive grit. Firefighters then removed the contents of the loft.

Faulty electrics on a cooker are thought to have sparked the second incident in Gore Court Road, Sittingbourne this morning. A woman heard a loud noise from the oven at around 8.20am, and then the cooker lights and timer went out. She tried to reset the switch on her fuse box and when she returned to her kitchen, she spotted smoke from under the plinth. She got out of the house with her daughter and teenage grandson and called KFRS.

Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel to extinguish the blaze, a thermal imaging camera to check for fire spread and a special fan to clear the smoke and fumes from the property.

Sittingbourne Watch Manager, Neil Ryder, told SFM News: "Two fridges, a double oven, worktop and cupboards were destroyed by the fire. The remainder of the kitchen, the utility room and conservatory had heavy smoke damage. The rest of the property had light smoke damage. Electrical fires are one of the biggest causes of accidental fires in people's homes - it can happen to anyone so it's really important that you make sure your electrics are in good working order, that you look out for warning signs and that electrical appliances are turned off when you are not using them - especially overnight. Working smoke alarms are a vital piece of life-saving equipment. Make sure you fit them on every floor and test them regularly. They will give you the early warning needed to fire in your home."

Sittingbourne FC, in conjunction with Gillingham FC, are aiming to run a football academy next season and expressions of interest are now being accepted for those who wish to pursue post 16 studies (Year 11's this term) with a speciality of football.

Adam Lawrence, Head of Community Sports & Education Foundation at Gillingham FC, told SFM News: "We [Gillingham FC] and our Community Trust are excited by the opportunity of working in partnership with Sittingbourne FC in founding this new and exciting Academy programme". 

Anyone interested should, in the first instance, email: DavidBrown@sittingbourneyouthfc@outlook.com to register.

This Saturday (7th February) Sittingbourne FC will be welcoming Mark Lund to the home game at Woodstock Park against Walton & Hersham.

Mark is making the 400 mile trip to Sittingbourne FC to raise awareness for his son Alfie's life limiting disorder MECP2 Duplication Syndrome. Alfie is one of only a handful of children in the UK and approximately 120 in the world suffering from the syndrome.

Alfie is 7 years old and can't walk or talk and has a shortened life expectancy. It's been a tough 2 weeks due to Alfie starting with seizures and countless trips to hospital but to raise awareness of MECP2 Duplication Syndrome the family have asked football fans to donate a scarf, shirt or flag which they tie together to create a chain. The response from all four corners of the country has been overwhelming and the chain is now 2 miles long and growing by the day.

Sittingbourne FC will donate a scarf and a shirt and on Saturday the pitch will be surrounded with scarfs to raise awareness.

The club is asking all 106.9 SFM listeners and club supporters too to go along and be part of something special.

Please add to Alfie's page your likes to show support and please share: www.facebook.com/thealfielundfund.

The visit programme so far has been: Stockport County on the 10th January, Skelmersdale United on the 24th January, Sittingbourne FC on the 7th February and Mark will be off to Southport FC on the 7th March, Ashford United on the 3rd Apil and Marine FC on the 6th April.

Yet again the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta is looking to support other local clubs and groups in the work they are doing, in helping others and supporting the local community in the town, for 2015.

The opening date for applications is the 1st April and the closing date for receipt of applications will be 31st May.

All applications will be considered and decisions taken on merit and applications do not exclude groups who have previously been helped in the past.

For further information please see:- www.rotary1120.org/sittingbourneinvicta/community-chest or you can email:- sittingbourneinvictarotary@live.co.uk for an application form.