Fire caused by incense stick
Firefighters from Southend were called to an incident on Wakering Road, Shoeburyness on Saturday at 12.25pm.
Crews used Breathing Apparatus to enter the property as it was smoke logged.
Firefighters believe the fire was caused by an incense stick which was knocked and began smouldering on dust sheets.
Watch Manager Mark Petty-Mayor said: “As the resident was leaving his property, he accidentally knocked the burning incense stick over with his coat. They were decorating so it fell on some dust sheets and began smouldering.
“Luckily, 15 minutes later his relative popped by to drop off his dog and found the smoke alarms going off, with a lot of smoke coming out of the property.
“This incident could have been a lot worse if his relative didn’t stop by. During the festive period a lot of people will be burning incense sticks, wax melts and candles, but you need to be careful not to leave them unattended and not to have items nearby that could catch fire.
“With incense sticks, they need to be properly stubbed out. It only takes an ember to catch nearby items alight.”
Candle safety advice
- Never leave candles burning unattended - put them out when you leave the room and make sure they're completely out at night
- Do not leave children alone with candles
- Don’t move candles once they are lit
- Make sure candles are away from materials that might catch fire
- Make sure candles are secured in a proper holder and keep the wax pool clear
- Burn candles in a well-ventilated room, but avoid drafts, vents or air currents. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning
- Trim the wick to ¼ inch each time before burning. Long or crooked wicks can cause uneven burning, dripping or flaring
- Do not burn several candles close together as this might cause flaring
