Member of public calls 999 and alerts residents after spotting fire in shop

A member of the public called 999 and alerted residents after spotting a fire in Waltham Abbey.

We were called to Market Square today (Wednesday 10 September) at 3.13am after she saw smoke coming from a shop.

Crews from Loughton, Epping and Cheshunt (two) attended and found a shop on the ground floor alight, with smoke affecting five flats on the first and second storeys.

Watch Manager Glenn Jackson said: "Fortunately a member of the public saw the smoke, called 999 and shouted to the occupants in the flats above the shop to get out.

"We'd like to praise her for her actions, particularly as none of the smoke alarms in the flats sounded. We'd also like to praise the residents who did the right thing – they got out, stayed out and enabled our crews to extinguish the fire.

"Crews did a fantastic job too, putting procedures we have worked on in training exercises with our colleagues from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service into practice." 

Crews wearing breathing apparatus searched the flats to make sure they had been evacuated, extinguished the fire by 4.35am and cleared the smoke.

The cause has been recorded as accidental. It is believed the fire started in an air conditioning unit.

Does your home have at least one working smoke alarm on every floor? Do you test them at least once month? If you need a smoke alarm call 0300 303 0088 to book a home fire safety visit or go to essex-fire.gov.uk/smoke-alarms.