A family returned from walking their dogs to see their garage destroyed in a blaze.
Firefighters acted quickly to stop the garage blaze destroying the family's home in Park Avenue, Canvey.
Crews from the island's fire station were called to the detached chalet after the alarm was raised at about 6.10pm yesterday.
They arrived to find a double garage well alight.
The homeowner was safely outside and told firefighters the rest of his family had gone out with the dogs.
Sub officer Martin Pullen said: "The whole of the garage was engulfed in flames. Once we had established there was no one inside we quickly got to work fighting the fire and protecting the house. It was a very severe fire.
"We managed to stop it spreading but there was some damage caused to the main house. The fire penetrated a window at the back and had just started to enter the kitchen when we got to it."
The main concern was the double garage, which was used for storage. No cars were kept inside but the homeowner's work tools were all said to have been destroyed.
Although the blaze was under control within 10 minutes, the garage was left completely gutted.
Four firefighters had needed breathing apparatus and a thermal imaging camera was used.
Gutted - the garage was completely destroyed in the blaze
Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD
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