Smoke alarms alert residents to loft fire

Firefighters would like to highlight the importance of having working smoke alarms at home after two elderly residents were alerted to a loft fire in St Osyth.

Crews were called to a bungalow in Johnson Road at 9:16am and on arrival reported that the loft space was heavily smoke logged.

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 9:48am and believe it was caused by an electrical fault in the loft.

Crew Manager Peter Woodiwiss from Clacton Fire Station said: “We’d really like to praise this couple who were quick to leave their house when hearing their smoke alarms going off which is exactly what we recommend if you discover a fire in your home - get out, stay out and call the fire service out.

“This incident really highlights the importance of having working smoke alarms and shows how they are there to give us an early warning to a fire and give us time to get out of the house safely.”

Do you have working smoke alarms in your home?

If you or someone you know doesn’t have working smoke alarms at home, we can fit them for free during a home fire safety visit.

You can book a free home fire safety visit at essex-fire.gov.uk/book