Skip to main content
Accessibility Tool
  • Zoom in
  • Zoom out
  • Reset
  • Contrast
  • Accessibility help
Home

Website header menu

  • Join Essex Fire
  • Request a home safety visit
  • Contact us
Menu Close
  • Home
  • About us
    Back
    About us
    • How we respond to keep Essex safe
    • Our strategies, plans and reports
    • Service Leadership Team
    • Our Fire Stations
    • Accessibility statement
    • Safeguarding statement
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Financial information
    • Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex
  • Join Essex Fire
  • Safety advice
  • Education
    Back
    Education
    • Education Programmes
    • Education Hub
    • Fire Cadets
    • Fire Safety Intervention
    • FireBreak
    • Activities for Children
  • Incidents
  • News
  • The Essex Fire Museum
  • Contact us
    Back
    Contact us
    • Contact our Service
    • Compliments and Complaints
    • Incident Reports

Website header menu

  • Join Essex Fire
  • Request a home safety visit
  • Contact us
Events and Open Days

Events and Open Days

Find out more
Save Safely

Save Safely

Fires cost. At best it’s smoke damage and a new appliance, at worst it’s your house or even your life. Here are our best tips to save money while staying safe at the same time. 

The cost of living is rising and people are…

Find out more
Summer Safety

Summer Safety

Summer is a busy period for our fire service so we're giving our best advice to help prevent incidents and help everyone to stay safe this summer.  

Our fire service usually sees a rise in wildfires in the summer and…

Find out more

Welcome to our new website. We welcome your feedback.

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Incidents
Incident

Two flats completely destroyed after serious fire

Two flats have been completely destroyed after a serious fire in Buckhurst Hill yesterday (Sunday 21 May).

Damaged house in Buckhurst Hill cause by fire

Firefighters were alerted by neighbours to a fire in the garden and was spread into the property which consisted of four flats (two ground floor and two first floor).

When firefighters arrived they reported the fire was well developed and was affecting one ground floor flat, one first floor flat and the roof space.

Essex firefighters were joined by two crews from London Fire Brigade to tackle the fire, which was on the border of Essex and London.

 

Crew Manager Stephen Gill, Loughton Fire Station said:

"This was a really challenging incident, where our firefighters had to work exceptionally hard to tackle the fire and stop it spreading to the neighbouring properties.

"We had four fire engines and our aerial ladder platform (a type of fire engine with a large ladder platform which we use to get up high and pour water on a fire from above) at the incident.

"The cause of the fire was found to be smouldering coals, which had been used in a fire pit in the garden the night before. The coals had been tipped out and left on the ground right next to the conservatory. The coals, which were not completely cooled, then caught the conservatory alight.

"Incidents like this show how important it is to ensure your coals/wood or anything used in a fire pit or barbecue are completely cool before you move or dispose of them. It could take up to 48 hours for ash/coals to be completely cool, but you can speed it up by pouring water over them and completely submerging them.

"I want to encourage everyone who has a fire pit or chiminea at home to follow our simple safety tips to avoid a fire like this:

  • Place your firepit away from your property, sheds, fences, trees, decking or anything that could catch alight
  • Before you light your fire make sure you have a way to put it out at hand, keep a bucket of water, sand or garden hose nearby just in case
  • When burning anything in your garden please consider the effect the smoke may have on you neighbours
  • Never use chemicals such as petrol to start your fire
  • Never leave any fire unattended, whether it is a barbecue, firepit or in a chiminea
  • Fire and alcohol don’t mix. Don’t drink too much alcohol if you are in charge of the fire
  • Make sure your firepit is fully extinguished before you go to bed.

"I'd like to add my thanks to my crews and our colleagues from London Fire Brigade, who fought really hard to minimise the damage as much as we could."

Closed
Fire
Incident number
194883
Stations from other services
Chingford (London Fire Brigade)
Woodford (London Fire Brigade)
Attending station
Loughton
Brentwood
Grays
Location
The Cedars, Buckhurst Hill
Date
11.24am - 21 May 2023
house damaged by fire in Buckhurst Hill
house damaged by fire in Buckhurst Hill
house damaged by fire in Buckhurst Hill
house damaged by fire in Buckhurst Hill
Outdoor Fire Safety
Find out more
Online Home Safety Check
Find out more
Summer Safety
Find out more

Footer

  • Compliments and Complaints
  • Incident Reports
  • Staff Email access
  • Retired Members Association

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters

Kelvedon Park
Rivenhall
Witham
Essex
CM8 3HB

Emergencies: 999

HQ Tel: 01376 576000 HQ

Tel: 0300 3035555

Fax: 01376 570466

Do not report emergencies to our HQ. To report an emergency please call 999.

Request a fire report or make a Freedom of Information request here

Make compliments and complaints here

Connect with us

  • Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin

Armed Forces Covenant logoInclusive Employers Standard logo

Footer bottom

  • Accessibility statement
  • Safeguarding statement
  • Cookies policy
  • Privacy Notice