Cigarette causes living room fire
Firefighters are warning smokers to take care while smoking inside after a fire in Thurrock yesterday left a resident homeless.
When crews arrived to the property, they found the living room on fire and the house full of smoke.
Watch Manager Kevin Smith said: "The resident fell asleep while smoking and woke up to their armchair and nearby items alight. They did the right thing by getting themselves out quickly and calling 999.
"If you're a smoker or you know someone who smokes, please take care while smoking. If you’re tired or you’ve had a drink, we’d suggest avoiding smoking indoors as it’s very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is burning.
"What's worrying is that the property had no working smoke alarms. We recommend you have a least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and that you test them regularly. We fit them for free, get in touch by visiting essex-fire.gov.uk/book or call 0300 303 0088."
Do you have working smoke alarms in your home?
Smoke alarms save lives. They can alert your family as well as your neighbours and passers by to a fire in your home if you're not in.
We recommend you have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and that you test them at least once a month.
If you or someone you know doesn’t have working smoke alarms at home, please get in touch with our Service. Visit essex-fire.gov.uk/book or call 0300 303 0088.
