Smoke alarm alerts occupants to fire in bedroom

A smoke alarm alerted occupants to a house fire in Southend.

We were called to Central Avenue yesterday (Saturday) at 6.57pm and crews from Southend and Leigh attended.

A remote control car battery left on charge had started a fire in a bedroom.

Watch Manager Dan Hart said: "Thick black smoke was coming out of a window when we arrived.

"Thankfully the occupants did exactly the right thing when they realised there was a fire: they got out, stayed out and called 999.

"Crews wearing breathing apparatus worked quickly to stop it from spreading and, thanks to their hard work, limited the fire damage to the bedroom.

"I have no doubt the outcome would have been different if the occupants didn't have smoke alarms."

Crews fully extinguished the fire by 7.47pm. Due to extensive damage to the bedroom and heavy smoke damage to the first floor, the house is temporarily uninhabitable.

Do you have working smoke alarms in your home?

Smoke alarms save lives. They can alert you and your family to a fire in your home, giving you enough time to escape safely.

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.