Fire broke out at this house in Ingle Road, Chatham

A father fled to safety with his sleeping toddler after a fire ripped through their Chatham home.

A young family and a pregnant woman were celebrating a friend's birthday in the garden when the chip pan caught alight at the house in Ingle Road.

The party were enjoying a barbecue at about 7pm yesterday and had forgotten the deep fat fryer in the kitchen was still switched on.

The mother, her three-year-old son and their friends left through an alley and dialled 999.

Meanwhile, the father rushed inside and grabbed the 18-month-old boy who was sleeping upstairs.

When two crews from Medway arrived, thick black smoke was billowing from the front door and kitchen window of the two-storey terrace house.

The kitchen windows had cracked in the heat and the smoke was seeping into a house next door.

Medway watch manager Paul Nash said: "The fire had developed very quickly, engulfing the kitchen, a small utility room and crept into the lounge and bathroom above.

"We used a pressure ventilation fan to force air into the house to drive heat, gases and smoke out of the property. Crews wearing breathing apparatus were then able to extinguish the blaze using two hose reels."

The family and pregnant woman were checked over by paramedics as a precaution and the Red Cross have provided practical help and support to the family.

Mr Nash added: "Sadly, this family have lost virtually everything, but had the fire started while they were asleep they may have lost more than their belongings as the smoke alarms in their home were not working.

"It is vital that everyone has working smoke alarms on every floor of their home. They really are the most important piece of safety equipment and never leave cooking unattended."