Freeway Promotions managing director Dennis Ellison had a miraculous escape after a fire swept through the firm's Medway premises.


Six fire engines were required to fight the blaze.


Ellison had been working on the plumbing. He fell from a stepladder and his blowtorch set fire to white spirit, then the fire spread.


"As he tried to escape the fire he ran into some racking, knocking himself out. When he regained consciousness his trainers were beginning to melt," said a Kent Fire Brigade spokeswoman.


Ellison suffered from a "nasty bump on the head".


Financial director Karen Dean said: "We're endeavouring to get up and running again as soon as possible. I want to reassure our suppliers that we have not gone out of business."