Firefighters face thick black smoke as they tackle blaze at Southend home

Firefighters have tackled a blaze at a home in Southend after reports of thick black smoke coming from the property.

Essex Fire were called to Eastern Avenue, in Southend, just after 10pm last night to reports of a kitchen fire.

On arrival firefighters were faced with thick black smoke coming from the property.

They reported that the fire was contained to the kitchen but the rest of the property was heavily smoke logged.

Crews quickly surrounded the fire and extinguished it and then cleared the rest of the house of smoke.

Following an investigation the cause of the fire was recorded as accidental, and thought to have started after the hob, which was accidentally switched on, set alight to paper which had been left on top.

The kitchen has suffered fire damage and the house has been left with smoke damage throughout.

Essex Fire has now urged residents to keep their hob clear as soon as they have finished cooking.