Kitchen Fire

Firefighters have highlighted the importance of having working smoke alarms following a fire at a bungalow in St Osyth today.

Crews from Clacton were called at 11.50am after reports from a neighbour that they could hear a smoke alarm going off. There was no one inside the semi-detached property in Kincaid Road as the occupants had gone out.

On arrival crews found a fire in the kitchen. They used one hose reel, two breathing apparatus and a thermal imaging camera and it was extinguished by 12.16pm. It is believed to have started accidentally from a chip pan on the cooker and resulted in the kitchen being smoke damaged.

Crew Manager Peter Woodiwiss said: “The cooker may have switched on accidentally. The smoke alarm alerted the neighbours who called us. Incidents like this really highlight how important it is to have working smoke alarms. There could have been a lot more damage if the smoke alarm had not been there to give the warning."

Smoke alarms are proven life savers. They give warning at the first sign of fire, waking you and your family up and giving everyone the time they need to get safely out and call the fire service.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service wants to ensure that every single home in Essex has the excellent protection smoke alarms offer and will visit any home in Essex and fit smoke alarms completely FREE of charge.

Find out more here.