Discarded cigarette causes garden fire

Firefighters were called to a garden fire in Wesley Avenue, Colchester. 

On arrival, crews reported that a garden fire was affecting a shed and starting to spread to the outside of a house. 

Crews worked to extinguish the fire and prevent it spreading to the house. 

Firefighters believe the fire was caused by a discarded cigarette.

Watch Manager Ian Ryder from Colchester Fire Station said: “If you are a smoker, please help us prevent fires this summer by making sure to properly stub out cigarettes before discarding them. It only takes an ember to start a fire in hot and dry conditions and you can play your part in preventing fires by double checking your cigarette is properly extinguished.”