Neighbours raise the alarm to house fire

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms after neighbours raised the alarm to a house fire in Brightlingsea today. 

Crews were called to a house fire in Windsor Court, Brightlingsea at 3:08pm after neighbours heard smoke alarms going off.

On arrival, crews reported that a semi-detached house was on fire. Firefighters entered the smoke filled house wearing Breathing Apparatus to tackle the fire. 

Crews worked to prevent the fire spreading to next door and extinguished it by 4:18pm. 

Firefighters believe the fire was caused accidentally by an electrical fault.

Station Manager Nick Singleton said: “We’d like to praise the neighbours for their quick actions in calling us. Having working smoke alarms at home is so important, not just to alert you to a fire but to neighbours and passers-by too. 

“We recommend you have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and that you test them regularly. If you haven’t got working smoke alarms, we can fit them for free. Find out more at www.essex-fire.gov.uk/book.

“I’d like to praise the crews who worked quickly to get this fire under control and prevent it spreading next door. Many of the firefighters here today are on-call firefighters working to protect their communities and lots of them were up throughout the night tackling a large fire in Dovercourt. 

“If you live or work within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station, you could be paid to protect your community as an on-call firefighter. Find out more about the role and how to apply at join.essex-fire.gov.uk/on-call.”