A lightning strike badly damaged two cottages in Wix.
Four fire engines were called to deal with the blaze in Harwich Road last night.
About 20 firefighters tackled the fire throughout the night and some were still there today.
No-one was at either of the homes at the time and no-one was injured.
At 9.50pm the fire brigade was called to the semi-detached cottages on fire near the White Hart pub in Harwich Road.
Brian Rudd, Manningtree's station officer, said: "It appears the cottages were struck by lightning and that set them both on fire.
"It was quite a severe fire on the first floors and in roof space of both properties."
Mr Rudd said one of the problems with putting the fire out was gaining access to the properties, as both were empty.
As firefighters broke into the houses the fire grew. They were also hampered by extensions on both properties.
Two fire engines from Dovercourt attended, and later one from Manningtree and one from Weeley.
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