Caravan fire - no working smoke alarms

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms after a caravan fire this afternoon.

Crews were called to Goatsmoore Lane, Ingatestone to a caravan on fire at 1.32pm today.

Station Manager John Warmann said: "When crews arrived they could see black smoke in all the windows, the fire had been smouldering for quite a while and has left the caravan completely uninhabitable.

"Unfortunately the residents did not have any working smoke alarms so were not alerted to the fire. We cannot stress enough how important it is to have working smoke alarms in your home. Even in small spaces like caravans. 

"If you haven’t got any or they’re not working, we can fit them for free. Get in touch with our home fire safety team at essex-fire.gov.uk/book or by calling 0300 303 0088."

The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental, and is thought to have started due to an electrical surge in the fuse board.