Three people had to spend the night in temporary accommodation after a fire caused smoke damage to their property.
The fire, at a ground-floor flat in Rettendon View, Wickford, is believed to have started when a candle accidentally set fire to curtains and a bedspread.
The startled man sleeping in the room quickly closed the door to his bedroom, woke up the other residents and called the emergency services.
Fire crews from Wickford and Basildon were called at 10.45pm on Tuesday and two officers using breathing apparatus quickly extinguished the flames.
A spokesman for the Fire Service praised the resident for shutting the door to his room to prevent the fire spreading.
He added that while a fire alarm was installed it failed to go off. He again called on the public to check their smoke alarms are in good order.
Published Friday March 5, 2004
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