Candle causes bedroom fire

Crews have issued safety advice after an unattended candle caused a bedroom fire.

The occupants were alerted by a smoke alarm to the fire, at the house in Holly Road, Stanway, today at 4.08pm.

The fire was out when firefighters arrived. They made sure it was fully extinguished and issued safety advice.

Watch Manager Gary Clarke said: "The candle set fire to a pillow, spread to an extension lead and caused smoke and fire damage to the rest of the bedroom.

"The incident shows the importance of never leaving candles and tea lights unattended.

"It caused a significant damage despite only being left for a few minutes – and it would have been much worse had there been no smoke alarms."

A man suffered smoke inhalation and was advised to go to hospital.

Candle advice

Here are a few simple precautions you should take when using candles or tea lights in the home:

• Consider using LED candles instead of wax candles
• Make sure candles are secured in a proper holder and are away from materials that may catch fire
• Put candles out when you leave the room and make sure they’re put out completely at night
• Burn candles in a well-ventilated room, but avoid drafts, vents or air currents
• Don’t move candles once they are lit
• Do not burn several candles close together as this might cause flaring

Do you have working smoke alarms in your home?

The resident in this incident had working smoke alarms in their home.

Smoke alarms save lives. They can alert your family as well as your neighbours and passers-by to a fire in your home if you're not in.

We recommend you have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and that you test them at least once a month.

If you or someone you know doesn’t have working smoke alarms at home, please get in touch. Visit essex-fire.gov.uk/book or call 0300 303 0088.