Couple warn of mirror danger after house fire

Sam and Michael Wilkinson smelt burning and heard the smoke alarm go off

A couple whose house caught fire after sunlight reflected off a mirror on to curtains have shared their story to help keep other people safe.

Sam and Michael Wilkinson were at home on 18 July when they smelt burning and heard the smoke alarm go off.

The fire on the third floor of their house in Rochester destroyed many items in the bedroom but was largely contained because the door was closed

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze in St Margaret’s Banks was believed to have started when sunlight bounced off a vanity mirror and on to the bedroom curtains.

Firefighters believe the fire started when sunlight reflected off a mirror on to curtains

Firefighters have urged people to keep mirrors and shiny objects away from windows and out of direct sunlight.

The couple said they went upstairs to see "billowing" smoke, so they closed the bedroom door quickly and got out of the house.

Mr Wilkinson said: “I was working in the office, which is directly under the room which caught fire, and I could smell burning, sort of like burnt toast.

"I checked my fan to see if it was overheating, went downstairs to see if anyone was cooking, and then I heard the smoke alarm on the top floor go off.

“I ran upstairs in a panic, screamed for Sam to wake up. We got out as quickly as we could and called 999.”

'It's not something you think of'

He added: “Our advice now is just be careful and educate people in your household about the dangers.

It’s one small preventable thing, that can have devastating effects. We were lucky.”

Ms Wilkinson said: “When the firefighters told us it was the mirror, we thought how can a mirror do that?

"It’s not something you think of. Now we know anything reflective or shiny near a window where the sun hits it, could start a fire.”

The fire destroyed many items in the bedroom but was largely contained, firefighters said