Man arrested after large fire destroys homes in Jaywick
The 47-year-old is being questioned on suspicion of arson
Last updated 9th Aug 2024
A man's been arrested on suspicion of arson following a major fire in Jaywick.
Essex Fire & Rescue Service say they were called to Beach Way at around 11:20am on Thursday.
Six crews attended the fire, with one remaining late to dampen the area and monitor remaining hotspots.
Three homes were destroyed, and seven suffered smoke and heat damage during the fire.
Fire crews and police are now jointly investigating the cause of a fire.
A 47-year-old man from Jaywick is in custody being questioned on suspicion of arson.
Essex Fire & Rescue Station Manager Karl Amoss thanked local residents for their "patience" as they dealt with the fire.
"There is still a rest centre set up at The Sunstop if anybody needs support or has any concerns.
"We understand the scene today was very distressing for lots of people and we will be carrying out an investigation to determine the cause of the fire."
The village's MP - Nigel Farage - has said his thoughts are with those affected by the "awful fire."
He says he's being kept "fully updated" and will visit in the coming days.
Essex Police are asking any witnesses, or anyone with CCTV, dashcam or other footage, to get in touch as they investigate.
People are being asked to quote incident 404 of 8 August.