A fatal flat fire has seen a young family left homeless and a dog tragically die. A woman and child managed to escape the flames but sadly their dog could not be revived, reports Essex Live.
The incident occurred earlier this week in Essex, when emergency services were called to a property in William's Walk. Fire crews from Colchester and Wivenhoe attended the scene to see the flat was completely smoke-logged.
The two crews acted quickly to extinguish the fire before ventilating the property. They also had to evacuate the adjoining properties until it was safe for residents to return.
Before the crew arrived, after the 10:27am call on November 23, a woman and her child had managed to escape the property. The two suffered mild smoke inhalation but their pet was unable to be resuscitated.
Unfortunately, the extent of the smoke damage means the flat is temporarily uninhabitable. Crew Manager Brenden Cardy said: "Thankfully the occupant did exactly the right thing when she noticed the fire; she got out, called 999 and stayed out.
"We believe the fire started in a utility cupboard where a fuse box and fridge-freezer were located. The incident serves as a reminder to get your electrics tested regularly and make sure appliances like fridges and freezers have room for air to ventilate behind the appliance.
"I'd like to praise crews for their quick response, hard work and professionalism in difficult circumstances." The cause has been recorded as accident, with crews leaving the scene at 1pm.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
