Crews issue safety advice after outbuilding fire
Crews have issued safety advice after extinguishing an outbuilding fire in Hawkwell.
We were called to a semi-detached house in Woodside Road today at 6.54am after a neighbour spotted a fire in the garden.
Crews from Hawkwell and Rochford attended and found an outbuilding, measuring about three metres by four metres, completely alight.
Watch Manager Gary Shinn said: "The outbuilding was being used as a gaming room and there were lots of electrical items charging.
"It would appear the power supply was inadequate, although there was so much damage it was impossible to say what item caused the fire.
"However, it shows the importance of not charging items overnight or unattended, and not overloading extension leads and adapters."
The fire also destroyed a shed, fencing and artificial grass, and caused the outside of the conservatory and the guttering on a neighbouring house to melt.
However, firefighters stopped the fire from spreading to houses and gardens. It was fully extinguished by 7.49am.
Watch Manager Shinn said: "I'd like to praise crews who worked fast and hard to contain and extinguish what was a well-developed fire."
Electrical and charging safety
- Plugging too many electrical appliances into one socket can lead to overheating
- Only use one adaptor per socket
- Don't overload extension leads and adaptors, they have a limit on how many amps they can take
- Don’t leave items on charge or plugged in for long periods, overnight or while you are out of the house
- Never leave chargers plugged in and turned on when they are not in use
- Only use the charger supplied by the manufacturer and looked for CE mark that indicates it complies with European Safety standards
