Fire on 8th floor of high rise
Firefighters were called to the scene of a fire on the 8th floor of a high rise building in Chichester Road, Southend.
Five crews have extinguished a fire in a communal area on the 8th floor. Firefighters are currently working to investigate the cause of the fire.
Group Manager Justin Benson-Ryal said: "Crews worked quickly to get into the building and get the fire under control. Thank you to all the residents who followed the stay put policy within the building, this meant we could access the scene quickly. Crews are working to make the scene and are checking in with residents.
"We anticipate we'll be here for the next hour carrying out a fire investigation so please avoid the area if you can, as traffic is building up."
UPDATE: Friday 22 March
The cause has been recorded as deliberate.
Fire safety in high-rise buildings
It's important to understand what to do in the event of a fire, whether it’s in your flat or somewhere else in the building.
Most high-rise blocks of flats have a "stay put" policy in the event of a fire. You should have been provided with this information when you moved in, however you can also find out your building's policy direct with the management company/council who own the building.
