A terraced home in Langdon Hills suffered a devastating fire when its first floor was engulfed in flames. Fire crews arrived promptly to find the fire spreading rapidly, leading the officer in charge to request an Aerial Ladder Platform to tackle the blaze from above.
Essex Police quickly established a safety cordon around the scene to ensure firefighters could work safely and efficiently. The fire was brought under control by 10.30pm and fully extinguished by 11.17pm. Despite these efforts, the damage to the property was extensive, leaving the occupants homeless.
An investigation revealed that the fire started accidentally due to a charger overheating in a bedroom. Watch Manager John-Paul Charters commented on the incident, stating: “Firefighters here worked extremely hard to keep the fire as contained as possible. When we arrived, the fire was rapidly spreading and could have easily spread to neighbouring properties. Unfortunately, the house where the fire began has been destroyed. We believe this incident was caused by a charger overheating, which happens more frequently than you might think. Please do not leave chargers on for extended periods or unattended – the risk is not worth it.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
