Essex family suffer from smoke inhalation after devastating kitchen fire this morning

An Essex family has suffered smoke inhalation following a fire at their house, which had no smoke alarms. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service crews responded to a Wharf Close, Stanford-le-Hope house this morning (November 9) after residents noticed smoke coming from their kitchen and called 999.

Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a kitchen fire and smoke throughout the house. They quickly extinguished the fire, which had started from a pan left on the hob, and ventilated the property to clear the smoke.

The family received treatment at the scene for smoke inhalation. Watch Manager Ben Stapleton said: “We’re not certain if the pan was left on from this morning or overnight.

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"What we do know is that there were no working smoke alarms, so it was fortunate the family noticed the smoke in time. Had this occurred at night, the fire could have spread undetected, potentially leading to a much more serious situation.

“Working smoke alarms are essential - they alert you and your family at the earliest sign of fire. They save lives and protect your property, which is why it’s so important to have one on every level of your home.”

Following the incident, crews installed smoke alarms in the home. They then spoke with neighbours to reinforce the importance of working smoke alarms.

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