Colchester man left homeless as fire sees flats evacuated

Firefighters from Colchester, Coggeshall and Tiptree were called to Nunn's Road, in Colchester, at 7.45am on Tuesday after reports of a fire in a flat.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing "white smoke billowing out of the building" and an overwhelming smell of smoke throughout the street. 

Emergency - Firetrucks and crews on scene (Image: Essex Fire Service)

Upon arrival, crews found a ground floor flat which was heavily smoke-logged before evacuating six flats due to the dangerous levels of smoke in the block. 

Wearing breathing apparatus, the firefighters then entered the property before extinguishing a fire in the living room. 

The flat, understood to be a Colchester Borough Homes property, has been left heavily smoke-logged and uninhabitable as a result of the inferno.

Following an investigation, the fire service said it believes the fire was caused by a cigarette setting a sofa alight.

Billowing - Smoke coming from the building (Image: Public)

Darren Holliday, watch manager from Colchester Fire Station said: “If you’re a smoker or you know someone who is, we’d urge you to avoid smoking if you’re tired or if you’ve been drinking or taking heavy medication. 

“This highlights how important it is to have working smoke alarms - the man was woken up by his smoke alarms and they also alerted neighbours.”

Extinguish - Firemen on scene (Image: Essex Fire Service)

Mark Goacher, Colchester councillor for Castle ward, has sent his well-wishes to the man left homeless after the fire. 

He said: "My sympathies go out to the tenant involved and hopefully they can be helped to find some alternative accommodation as soon as possible.

"It must be very traumatic and I feel sympathy towards the tenant as well as for the other tenants in the flats.

"Hopefully Colchester Borough Homes can sort them out as soon as possible to ensure the tenant's safety."

In addition to firefighters, paramedics were also required to attend the scene.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “We can confirm that we were called at 9am today to a property fire in Nunn’s Road in Colchester.

"An ambulance was sent to the scene and assessed one patient who did not require transportation to hospital.”

Colchester Borough Homes did not respond before going to press.