Families left homeless after fire breaks out in South Ockenden

Crews were called to a property in Daiglen Drive, South Ockendon earlier today when a neighbour noticed a garden fire had spread into a conservatory.

Firefighters were called to a house in South Ockendon at 3:11pm, when a chiminea caused a fire which spread out of control.

On arrival, crews confirmed that there was a fire in the garden, the conservatory and the loft. Crews soon discovered that the fire had also spread into the loft of the adjoining property.

Firefighters from Grays worked quickly to extinguish the fire by 5:20pm. Fortunately, nobody was harmed but two families have sadly been left homeless as a result of the fire.

We would like to thank residents of South Ockendon for being patient with us while our crews tackled the fire.

Do you use a chiminea, fire pit or barbecue in your garden?

• Have a safe set up – avoid placing your chiminea on decking or near trees and flammable structures. Ensure also that it is stable and secure on its stand to minimise the risk of it toppling over.
• Never use chemicals such as petrol to start your fire, instead use kindling to create small fire and then slowly add the larger wood.
• Ensure your chiminea has a fire guard, if it did not come with one, you can easily make one yourself using mesh wire. The guard will then prevent any hot embers escaping and possibly burning someone.
• Outdoor fires can get very hot – make sure children are properly supervised and warn your guests of the dangers too.
• Never leave a fire unattended, whether it is a barbecue, fire pit or in a chiminea
• Keep a bucket of water, sand or garden hose nearby just in case.

Do you have working smoke alarms in your home?

Smoke alarms save lives. They can alert your family as well as your neighbours and passers-by to a fire in your home if you're not home.

We recommend you have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and that you test them at least once a month.

If you or someone you know doesn’t have working smoke alarms, please get in touch. Visit essex-fire.gov.uk/book or call 0300 303 0088.