Thousands of homes across Basildon are set for free smoke alarms as part of a multi-million pound fire prevention package.
Cash is also being made available for free fire safety advice and home checks across the district.
Priority for the scheme will go to vulnerable people, mainly the elderly and young families, who, statistics have shown are more at risk of suffering house fires.
Although Basildon fire station already offers the alarms to some households, the scheme is expected to enable them to offer more of the life-saving equipment.
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