Firefighters stop garage fire spreading to house

Four crews of firefighters worked quickly this evening to stop a garage fire spreading to a house in Horndon-on-the-Hill.

The 10 metre by five metre garage, which was used a workshop, was unfortunately destroyed by the fire, including all of the tools inside.

Crews from Basildon, Rayleigh Weir and Grays were called to the property at 7.50pm and the found the garage 100 percent alight.

Station Manager Russ Freeman said: “Firefighters quickly contained the fire and removed the cylinders that were inside and stopped the fire spreading to the house nearby, although there was some damage to the outside of the building.”

The cause of the fire is believed to have been accidental but this is a incident is a good reminder to urge people to follow our safety advice.

Russ added: “We’d urge people to be careful when having bonfires as the ashes can still be warm for a couple of days. Please follow our safety advice as fires can spread faster than people expect and they put people and property at risk.

"A few simple steps really do reduce the risk: please avoid having bonfires until we’ve had a couple of days of rain, keep barbecues away from sheds and fences and never leave them unattended. “

Stay safe – our top safety tips:

• Barbecues: Place them on flat ground, well away from sheds, fences, trees and dry grass. Keep a bucket of water or sand nearby. Never leave them unattended.
• Bonfires: Avoid lighting one until we’ve had a couple of days of rain. If you do, never use petrol or other accelerants. Keep a hosepipe or water supply to hand. Don’t burn in windy conditions and never make the fire too large.
• Cigarettes and litter: Always put cigarettes out properly and dispose of them safely.
• Garden waste: Use recycling or composting services where possible instead of burning.