Crews issue fire pit safety advice after outbuilding destroyed

Crews have issued safety advice after a fire pit is believed to have set an outbuilding alight in Loughton.

We were called to Roydon Close today at 12.58am and crews from Loughton, Brentwood and Woodford (London Fire Brigade) attended.

The summerhouse was completely alight when crews arrived.

Watch Manager Gary Dyer said: "Fortunately the owner woke up and saw the flames, which were as high as the house.

"Crews did a fantastic job to stop the fire from spreading to two nearby homes, and our firefighters worked really well with colleagues from London Fire Brigade."

Crews extinguished the fire by 2am and remained at the scene until 2.51am to check for hot spots.

Watch Manager Dyer said: "We believe the fire was caused by embers from a fire pit catching the outbuilding alight.

"With the warmer weather arriving and people spending more time in their gardens, it is so important to follow our safety advice.

"If you're having a barbecue, bonfire or using a fire pit, please make sure you fully extinguish the embers before you leave it."  

A fridge inside the summerhouse is another potential cause of the fire.

Watch Manger Dyer said: "It is so important that electrical appliances in outbuildings are safe. If your shed, summerhouse or garage catches fire, it can easily spread to your home and other nearby properties.

"Don't overload sockets, never leave devices charging overnight and make sure plugs, sockets and cables are in a good condition."

You can find more electrical safety on our website, here.