Five dogs were rescued from a house fire in Basildon after a blaze broke out at a mid-terrace property on New Year’s Day, fire services have confirmed.
Firefighters were called to a house in Takely End just after 5pm after a fire started in the lounge. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said the incident was caused by an overloaded plug socket, with Christmas tree lights and several other electrical items connected.
Two occupants were inside the property at the time of the fire. They managed to escape through an upstairs window with assistance from a neighbour and were treated for smoke inhalation. Fire crews later rescued five dogs from the house, who were left in the care of the RSPCA following the Basildon house fire dog rescue.
Crews attending the incident found that the fire had spread due to the electrical fault. Firefighters said the lack of working smoke alarms in the property meant the occupants were slower to become aware of the fire while upstairs.
Watch Manager Kevin Smith said: “The property didn’t have working smoke alarms and because the occupants were upstairs it delayed how quickly they realised there was a fire.
“Unfortunately, the front and back doors were both locked, delaying how quickly the occupants could get out.
“Thankfully, a neighbour was able to help them to safety via the roof of the porch.
“As well as highlighting the importance of having at least one working smoke alarm on every floor, the incident shows how vital it is to plan an escape route and make sure your exits are accessible in case of an emergency.
“Plugging too many things into a socket can cause it to overheat, as we believe happened in this incident.
“Extension leads have a limit on how much electrical current they can take, so make sure you’re not overloading them.”
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said the incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with overloading sockets, particularly during the winter period. The Basildon house fire dog rescue resulted in no fatalities, with both occupants and animals safely accounted for.
