Felmores Fire

Two people have been hurt in a house fire in Pitsea. Firefighters were called to the fire in Winstree on the Felmores Estate shortly after 1.45 this afternoon.

By the time firefighters reached the blaze in a mid-terrace, two storey, timber-framed house the flames had already spread to its roof void.

By 3.00pm its roof had completely collapsed and the roofs of three adjoing properties had partially collapsed.

Meanwhile, fire-crews using breathing apparatus checked for any people left in the properties, while colleagues tackled the blaze.

The casualties were taken taken to Basildon University Hospital, suffering from smoke inhalation.

The fire was put out by 3.30, but crews remained damping down any remaining hot-spots.

Assistant Divisional Officer Dave Moore said:

“The fire started in one home and spread through the roof to affect five other homes.

“The buildings are timber framed and timber clad and that presented a real problem to crews, but thanks to the hard work and professionalism they prevented this fire from spreading further and destroying many more homes.”

The manner this fire spread was uncomfortably reminiscent of the blaze in 2009 in nearby Bockingham Green: another area of timber framed and clad homes.

You can find pictures of the fire below.

Photographs courtesy of the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

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