Candle fire

Firefighters have given candle safety advice after a candle fire in Billericay earlier today.

Two crews from Basildon were called to Norsey Road, Billericay where a house was heavily smoke logged after a candle fell and caught furniture alight.

Crews extinguished the fire by 1pm and ventilated the property.

Watch Manager Rob Fossett from Basildon Fire Station said: “With many people using candles at this time of year, we’d advise you to always keep an eye on your candles and never leave them burning unattended.

"The resident was in the room with the candle as we would advise and acted quickly to use a fire blanket before quickly calling us.

“Make sure you place candles in a secure holder and well out of reach of children or pets. Keep them well away from flammable materials like curtains.”

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

• Consider swapping wax candles for LED candles, they are much safer and give the same warm glow
• Make sure candles are secured in a proper holder and are away from materials that may catch fire – like curtains
• Children should not be left alone with lit candles
• Put candles out when you leave the room, and make sure they’re put out completely at night
• Keep the wax pool clear of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times
• Burn candles in a well-ventilated room, but avoid drafts, vents or air currents. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning, sooting, and excessive dripping
• Trim the wick to ¼ inch each time before burning. Long or crooked wicks can cause uneven burning, dripping or flaring
• Don’t move candles once they are lit
• Follow the manufacturer's recommendations on burn time and proper use
• 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 that were going off when firefighters arrived.

Smoke alarms save lives. They can alert your family as well as your neighbours and passersby 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.