House destroyed in fire started by candles

A house has been destroyed after a fire that crews said was likely caused by candles.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service was called to the terraced house in Easton End in Laindon, Basildon, at 10:57 BST.

A spokesperson said the house was no longer habitable and all three occupants were assessed by the ambulance service.

Pheobe Hutley had been a firefighter for four months and this was the first incident she had tackled where the occupants were trapped.

She was one of the first two firefighters who entered the building. They were both wearing breathing apparatus and used thermal imaging cameras to search for the people inside.

"We searched the house and quickly made our way upstairs to find the trapped occupants," she said.

"Saving someone's life is an incredible feeling and that's what we are here for."

A spokesperson said an investigation concluded the cause of the blaze to be "accidental" and likely caused by the candles.

The fire started in the lounge.

Mark Blakebrough, watch manager from Basildon fire station, said: "It's really important to extinguish candles whenever you leave a room.

"Fires can spread quickly and produce a lot of smoke, which can be just as deadly."

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