Flat fire in Brentwood
Firefighters were called to a flat fire by concerned neighbours who were alerted by the sound of a smoke alarm in the property below them.
When fire crews arrived they reported that the flat was completely full of smoke and there was a fire in the open plan kitchen/living area. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus quickly extinguished the fire and stopped it spreading further.
The flat has suffered serious fire damage. The cause of the fire is thought to be a discarded cigarette.
Smoking
If you're a smoker or you have a smoker living in your house, make sure you follow our advice to stay safe at home:
- Make sure your cigarettes are fully extinguished.
- Take extra care when you’re tired; if you're taking any kind of drugs or have been drinking alcohol. It’s very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning.
- Never smoke in bed - if you need to lie down, don’t light up. You could doze off and set your bed on fire.
- Never leave lit cigarettes unattended - they can easily overbalance as they burn down.
- Use a proper, heavy ashtray that can’t tip over easily and is made of a material that won’t burn.
- Tap your ash into an ashtray, never a wastebasket containing other rubbish – and don’t let the ash or cigarette ends build up in the ashtray.
- Use child safe matches and cigarette lighters and keep them safely out of the reach of children
- Fit and maintain a smoke alarm - a working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999.
Do you have working smoke alarms?
Do you have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and test your smoke alarms regularly?
If you or someone you know hasn't got working smoke alarms at home, did you know we can fit them for free?
Please get in touch with our home fire safety team by calling 0300 303 0088 or by visiting essex-fire.gov.uk/book
