Fire in conservatory

Firefighters are urging people to make sure they have working smoke alarms after a couple's lives were saved by theirs.

Crews were called to a detached two-storey house in Basildon during the early hours of this morning after the homeowners called 999 to report a large fire on the ground floor of their home. Thankfully their smoke alarms had woken them up. 

As crews made their way to the house a neighbour used a ladder to rescue the couple and their dog from an upstairs window. 

When crews arrived they reported that a fire, which had started in the conservatory, had spread through the open plan living area. Firefighters quickly began tackling the fire and extinguished it by 3am. 

Watch Manager Mark Blakebrough, Basildon Fire Station, said: 

"We are confident this would have been a very different incident if it wasn't for the smoke alarms. The quick actions of the neighbours and the fact the occupants were woken by their smoke alarms saved their lives. There is no excuse not to make sure you have smoke alarms and regularly test them - it's a matter of life and death. 

"Because of the amount of heat and smoke generated by the fire, the homeowners could not escape down the stairs because within minutes their exit route was blocked. This incident really does highlight the importance of talking about escape plans with your family as well as closing doors before going to bed."

The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental, and thought to have started after a charging power pack plugged in behind a sofa caught alight. 

Watch Manager Blakebrough added:

"We have so many things in our lives these days that need charging, but it's really important to do this when you're awake so you'll know much earlier if it does catch fire. Ideally you should also try to charge items without leaving them on anything like soft furnishings that can overheat more quickly, and never leave anything charging in an escape route."

The house has been left with severe fire and smoke damage.