Elderly man made homeless after fire burns down his Essex home
An elderly man has been made homeless after his flat was destroyed by fire. The incident happened at Tasman Court, Off Hobart Close, in Chelmsford, where Essex Fire Brigade were called at 2am.
Firefighters from Chelmsford fire station attended the scene along with East of England Ambulance Service. An automatic fire alarm was going off in a heavily smoke logged flat when firefighters arrived.
Firefighters entered the flat with breathing apparatus to rescue the elderly man and tackle the fire in the kitchen. The fire was extinguished but the flat is reportedly inhabitable because of the smoke damage.
The man was treated for smoke inhalation. Firefighters believed the fire started when the hob was accidentally turned on and items on top caught on fire.
Watch Manager Mark Curtis from Chelmsford Fire Station said: “Please try to keep your hob and the surrounding area clear once you’ve finished cooking. We’ve seen several fires where the hob has been accidentally turned on. Keeping your hob clear can help to minimise the risk of a fire.
“We’d also recommend closing your internal doors each night before you go to bed and when you go out. Having the doors closed can help to prevent smoke spreading if there is a fire in your home.”