Crews respond to two fires caused by batteries

Three people have been treated by paramedics after fires believed to have been caused by lithium-ion batteries catching alight, Kent Fire & Rescue has said.

One blaze started in Victoria Hill Road, in Swanley, at about 15:00 GMT on Saturday, where two vehicles were needed to extinguish the fire in a house.

Then at about 20:30, fire crews were called to a block of flats in Newington Road, Ramsgate, where four fire engines and a height vehicle were needed to extinguish the flames.

Two people from the Swanley fire, and a further person from the Ramsgate blaze were passed to ambulance paramedics after suffering the effects of smoke inhalation, the fire service said.

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