Barbecue causes garage fire

Crews were called to a fire affecting a garage in Kingfisher Drive, South Benfleet last night.

On arrival, firefighters confirmed that a barbecue had been propped up against the garage, and the windowsill and guttering were alight.

Crews quickly extinguished the fire by 10:07pm.

Watch Manager at Rayleigh Fire Station, Dan Evison, said: “We’ve seen a number of fires caused by barbecues across the county in the last few weeks and this incident is a prime example of how easily they can happen.

“Fortunately, neighbours quickly noticed the fire and called 999, so the damage in this instance was minimal but it could have been a very different story.

“While the hot weather continues, the risk of fires starting is high. Please don’t have barbecues or bonfires and opt for a fire-free option instead.”

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Some of the firefighters who attended this incident are on-call firefighters, who live or work within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station and are paid to attend incidents in their community.

If you live or work within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station, you could be an on-call firefighter.

Find out more about the role at essex-fire.gov.uk/on-call