Discarded cigarette causes fire affecting four houses

Firefighters were called to a fire affecting the roof spaces of four houses in Onslow Close, Colchester this afternoon. 

On arrival, crews reported that a fire in a garden had spread up a mid terraced house and into the roof space. 

The smoke from the roof was spreading into three adjoining roof spaces. 

Firefighters requested the help of two more crews from Colchester and Witham and an Aerial Ladder Platform to tackle the fire in sections. 

Crews worked to prevent the fire spreading throughout the adjoining roof spaces and extinguished the fire by 5:45pm. 

The main house affected was left uninhabitable due to the smoke and fire damage. 

An adjoining house was left smoke damaged in the roof and first floor.

An investigation was carried out to determine the cause of the fire and found it was caused by a discarded cigarette. 

Station Manager Terry Maher said: “Crews worked quickly to get hold of this fire and prevent it spreading throughout the terraced houses. 

“Due to the hot and dry conditions, the fire spread very quickly from outside to the house and up to the roof space. 

“If you smoke, please make sure to properly stub out cigarettes before discarding them. We’ve had several fires recently that have been caused by discarded cigarettes that have spread in the dry conditions, it only takes an ember for a fire to start in these conditions.”