Two people have been left without a home and without their two beloved dogs after a horrendous house fire. Firefighters from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service were called to a house in Benfleet yesterday afternoon (January 14) after a passer-by noticed smoke coming from a window.
On arrival, crews found a significant fire on the ground floor of the property. The entire house was filled with smoke, which had also started spreading to the neighbouring home.
Firefighters acted quickly to bring the fire under control and ventilate both properties, preventing further damage. Station Manager Russ Freeman said: “This is a devastating incident, with two people now displaced from their home and the loss of two beloved pets.
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“Our thoughts are with the residents during this difficult time. We share details of incidents like this to help raise awareness and provide safety advice that could prevent similar situations.
“There are a few important lessons to take from this incident: Working smoke alarms on every level of your home will alert you and others to the first sign of fire.
“Keep internal doors closed, especially when leaving a room. This can significantly slow the spread of smoke and fire, giving you more time to act.
“Always switch off electrical appliances completely after use. Leaving devices on standby can pose a risk, as we suspect may have been the case here. By taking these simple precautions, we can all reduce the risk of fire in our homes.”
The house has been significantly damaged by the fire.