Colchester Flat Fire caused by cigarette after man falls asleep smoking
6 other flats had to be evacuated yesterday morning
A flat in Colchester has been left uninhabitable after a blaze was caused by a cigarette.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service were called yesterday morning (February 6) to the fire in Nunns Road.
A resident had fallen asleep whilst smoking, it's believed the cigarette caused a sofa to catch alight, and spread through the living room.
The resident woke to smoke alarms, with the flat heavily smoke logged by the time crews arrived.
It was extinguished, but six other flats had to be evacuated due to smoke in the block.
Watch Manager Darren Holliday from Colchester Fire Station said: “If you’re a smoker or you know someone who is, we’d urge you to avoid smoking if you’re tired or if you’ve been drinking or taking heavy medication.
“This highlights how important it is to have working smoke alarms, the man was woken up by his smoke alarms and they also alerted neighbours.”