Crews rescue person from blaze at block of flats

Harriet Heywood
BBC News, Essex
Aaron Chesham A red and yellow incident command unit van is parked outside a residential area at night-time. To the right of the vehicle is a police office and a sign reading 'Catherine Lodge'.Aaron Chesham
The blaze in Southend broke out on Friday evening

A person has been rescued from a block of flats after a fire was thought to have broken out in a kitchen.

Firefighters were called to a second floor flat on Baxter Avenue in Southend, Essex, at 21:00 GMT on Friday.

The person was left in the care of the ambulance service, after suffering from smoke inhalation.

Station manager, Jason Gould, said: "It's really important to keep your hobs, ovens and grills clean as a build-up of fat and grease can ignite a fire."

Aaron Chesham The backs of two red and yellow fire engines at the scene. It is night time and they have their lights on. The side of the vehicle reads 'fire and rescue service'.Aaron Chesham
Crews from Southend, Leigh, Shoeburyness, Rochford and Rayleigh Weir attended

Mr Gould thanked residents for following the building's "stay put policy" in the event of a fire, which helped crews get to the affected flat.

"Our firefighters worked quickly to contain the fire and smoke to the kitchen area, which prevented damage throughout the flat," he said.

Crews from Southend, Leigh, Shoeburyness, Rochford and Rayleigh Weir responded to the blaze.

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