Discarded cigarette causes fire

Firefighters are advising residents to make sure cigarettes are properly stubbed out after a discarded cigarette caused a fire in Clacton earlier today.

Crews from Clacton, Weeley, Brightlingsea and Colchester were called to Beach Way, Jaywick at 12:19pm.

On arrival, crews reported that the decking outside of a derelict house was on fire and producing lots of smoke.

Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire by 1:10pm.

Station Manager Jeremy Tuckwell said: “Please make sure to stub cigarettes out properly before discarding them - especially in this hot and dry weather we will see carrying on throughout the week. It only takes a small ember to ignite dry grass and plants during hot weather."

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Brightlingsea and Weeley’s firefighters are on-call firefighters - they all live or work within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station and are paid to protect their community. 

Do you live or work within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station? You could be an on-call firefighter. 

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