Chimney fire

Firefighters have given safety advice for residents who use log burners and open fires at home after a chimney fire in Shoeburyness yesterday.

A crew from Shoeburyness was called to Ness Road, Shoebury at 2:21pm to reports of a chimney fire.

Crews used chimney rods and a stirrup pump to help them extinguish the fire by 3pm.

Firefighters fitted three smoke alarms while at the property as there were no working smoke alarms in the home.

Regular inspection and cleaning of chimney flues will help prevent fires within chimneys. Keep your family and home safe by following our chimney safety advice.

• Have your chimney swept at least once a year, or more frequently if you burn wood
• Do not stack fires too high and remember to let them burn down well before you go to bed
• Use a fire or spark guard
• Inspect your chimney regularly - particularly in the roof space - to ensure that it is sound and that sparks or fumes cannot escape through cracks or broken bricks
• Avoid burning resinous woods as soot builds up quickly. Suitable seasoned timber must be used in all solid fuel stoves

For more information and safety advice regarding chimney fires visit essex-fire.gov.uk/chimney

Do you have working smoke alarms at home?

Buying and fitting smoke alarms, and ensuring they are properly maintained, could give you those precious extra minutes to escape safely in the event of a fire.

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. Smoke alarms save lives.

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

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Firefighters from Shoeburyness Fire Station are on-call firefighters, who all live or work within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station and attend incidents.

If you live or work within 5 minutes of Shoeburyness Fire Station, you could be an on-call firefighter and be paid to protect your community.

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