Discarded cigarette sets fence panels alight

Firefighters are advising residents to make sure cigarettes are properly stubbed out before discarding them after a fire in Clacton last night.

Crews were called to Beach Road, Clacton at 8pm and reported that six fences panels were alight.

The fire was affecting neighbouring flats and two windows were broken due to heat damage. The fire also melted some of the guttering.

Crews extinguished the fire by 8:47pm and believe it was caused by a discarded cigarette in a pile of rubbish.

If you're a smoker or know someone who is make sure you follow our advice to stay safe:

• Make sure your all cigarettes are fully extinguished before discarding them - especially in hot and dry weather
• Take extra care when you’re tired, taking any sort of drugs or have been drinking alcohol. It’s very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning
• Never smoke in bed - if you need to lie down, don’t light up. You could doze off and set your bed on fire
• Never leave lit cigarettes unattended - they can easily overbalance as they burn down
• Use a proper, heavy ashtray that can’t tip over easily and is made of a material that won’t burn. Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished
• Tap your ash into an ashtray, never a wastebasket containing other rubbish – and don’t let the ash or cigarette ends build up in the ashtray
• Use child safe matches and cigarette lighters and keep them safely out of the reach of children
• Fit and maintain a smoke alarm - a working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Firefighters attending this incident from Clacton and Wivenhoe 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. 

If 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