A woman fled for her life after her bed caught fire.
It is believed the woman - who has not been named - was smoking and dropped the cigarette into the bedding.
She realised the danger almost immediately and escaped from her third floor flat in Thoroughgood Road, Clacton.
Fire crews arrived at about 9.45pm last night (Monday).
She was taken to Colchester General Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation but released after treatment.
A spokesman for the Essex Fire Service said two firefighters using breathing apparatus dealt with the blaze within ten to 15 minutes.
The bed was destroyed and much of the flat was smoke-damaged.
"It appears the woman had been smoking in bed," the spokesman added.
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