Garage fire

Crews extinguished a garage fire and stopped it spreading to an adjacent thatched cottage.

Firefighters from Chelmsford were called to reports of a fire in Larks Lane, Great Waltham yesterday at 8.09pm.

Neighbours had spotted the smoke and raised the alarm and crews found a timber-framed garage alight.

Watch Manager Mark Curtis said: "Bearing in mind it was only a couple of metres from a thatched roof, crews did a fantastic job in quickly containing and extinguishing the fire.

"Although most of the contents and roof of the garage were destroyed, crews managed to remove a car before it was damaged."

The fire, which was fully extinguished by 8.42pm, was caused by a broken garden light, which had been damaged during recent storms.

Watch Manager Curtis said: "The light was hanging by the wires next to a wooden panel. It was inadvertently left on and, over a period of time, set the panel alight which then spread to the garage.

"It's worth checking your property for any storm damage and making sure your electrics are in a safe condition."

Crews also made sure the thatched cottage had working smoke alarms.

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, or are unable to hear it.

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.