A DENTAL practice was saved but outbuilding destroyed with billowing smoke seen across Colchester.
 

Firefighters were called to The Dental Practice, belonging to Francois Roussow, on Halstead Road at about 3pm yesterday.

Cut grass piled against a timber building began smouldering in the heat before catching fire.


Within minutes flames were leaping 30ft in the air as firewood, oak floorboards, old paper patient records and dental equipment fuelled the fire and turned the storage area into a bonfire.
 

Mr Roussow said: “A patients saw the smoke and alerted our receptionist.
“Her car was parked next to it but she managed to move it and I went to open the door to get a hose inside but decided against it in case it made things worse.
 

“The firefighters were great.
 

“They were here in four or five minutes and stopped the fire spreading to more than one or two trees and the practice is business as usual.
 

“It is sad and was a lovely building but we have to get on with it now.”
Firefighters put out the flames after about 30 minutes and then worked on damping down the area.
 

Station Officer Syd Barrett said: “When we arrived it was 100 per cent alight and had gone up quickly.
 

“It was a large fire but we were able to bring it under control and everyone worked well to make it safe.
 

“With the heat and the grass smouldering against the timber frame it didn’t take much.”
 

People reported seeing the smoke three miles away in the town centre.