Discarded cigarette sets fire to sheds and fence panels

Firefighters are giving advice to smokers to make sure cigarettes are properly discarded after a lit cigarette caused a fire in Thorpe Bay.

Two sheds, six fence panels and a tree were damaged during the fire.

Firefighters were called to Butterys, Thorpe Bay at 11:47am and on arrival reported that a fire had spread from one shed to six fence panels and a tree.

The fire was beginning to spread to a neighbour’s shed and crews worked quickly to prevent it spreading further.

With lots of smoke coming from the scene, our Control Room got in touch with train operators to warn them of smoke near the train tracks. Trains were slowed down while crews dealt with this incident.

The fire was caused by a discarded cigarette.

Watch Manager Scott Ford from Southend Fire Station said: “Please take care when discarding cigarettes. Make sure they are properly stubbed out. Embers from cigarettes can quickly catch nearby materials like fences and sheds alight which can quickly spread, especially in warmer and dryer weather, so please make sure to properly extinguish your cigarettes.

“Crews worked hard to prevent this fire spreading and were able to save the neighbour’s shed.”

If you're a smoker or you have a smoker living in your home, make sure you follow our advice to stay safe at home:

• Make sure your all cigarettes are fully extinguished
• 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