Fire in sheltered accommodation

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of fire doors after a kitchen fire in Great Easton last night.

Crews were called to a sheltered accommodation in Dunmow Road, Great Easton at 10:20pm.

On arrival, firefighters reported a flat was heavily smoke logged.

Firefighters wearing Breathing Apparatus entered the flat and found a fire in the kitchen.

Crews believe the fire was caused when an item on the hob caught alight when the cooker was accidentally turned on.

Station Manager Lee Hurst said: “The flat has some smoke damage but this was minimised significantly by fire doors in the property.

“The fire doors contained the fire to the kitchen and did a great job of containing the smoke to the flat rather than it spilling into the corridor and neighbouring flats. We did evacuate five other flats as a precaution but everyone was ok and able to get back home once we dealt with the incident.

“We often see hobs being turned on accidentally, so our advice is to make sure you keep your hob clear as soon as you’ve finished cooking.”