Man injured after flames spread from fire pit to house

Burning embers from a fire pit in Essex caused a house to catch fire overnight. The house in Loughton had a fire pit in the garden, embers of which had been left near garden furniture which caught fire, spreading to a fence, wood pile and then the house.

Essex Fire Service was called to Hilltop, Loughton today (June 17) at 6.46am and crews from Loughton and Waltham Abbey attended. A man in his forties suffered smoke inhalation and burns after tackling the fire. The fire was fully extinguished by 7.41pm.

Watch Manager Glenn Jackson said: “The cause was found to be smouldering embers, which had been used in a fire pit in the garden the night before. The fire pit had been left next to garden furniture and set it alight. The fire then spread to a fence, a wood pile and part of the house.

“Incidents like this show how important it is to ensure your coals or 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 embers to be completely cool, but you can speed it up by pouring water over them and completely submerging them.

The remains of the fire pit in the garden in Loughton (Image: Essex Fire Service)

“I’d like to praise our crews for their efforts in extinguishing the fire, particularly because access was difficult. Thankfully the fire only damaged part of the roof and outside of an extension. Please do not try and tackle a fire yourself; get to a place of safety and call 999.”

References

1. ^{^} The latest news from Loughton (www.essexlive.news)