Basildon house fire leads to smoke inhalation and five dogs rescued
Crews issue safety advice after blaze caused by overloaded socket
Two people suffered smoke inhalation and five dogs were rescued following a house fire in Takely End, Basildon.
Emergency crews were alerted to the fire at 5.07pm yesterday (1st January), with teams from Basildon, Billericay, and Orsett attending the scene.
The blaze began in the lounge of the two-storey mid-terraced house and quickly filled the property with smoke.
Watch Manager Kevin Smith said the house did not have working smoke alarms, delaying the occupants' awareness of the fire as they were upstairs.
"The front and back doors were both locked, which delayed how quickly the occupants could escape,” Smith said. “Thankfully, a neighbour managed to help them to safety via the roof of the porch."
Crews extinguished the fire and cleared the smoke, rescuing five dogs, which were handed over to the RSPCA. The two occupants were treated for smoke inhalation by ambulance crews.
The fire is believed to have been caused by an overloaded socket that included Christmas tree lights and an extension lead with multiple items plugged in.
Watch Manager Smith highlighted key safety measures.
"Plugging too many things into a socket can cause it to overheat, as we believe happened in this incident.
"Extension leads have a limit on how much electrical current they can take, so make sure you’re not overloading them."
He also stressed the importance of having working smoke alarms on every floor of the house and keeping doors unlocked to ensure exits are easily accessible in emergencies.
Crews left the scene at 7.21pm.