An investigation has been launched after a suspicious early morning fire wrecked an empty house
Fire - House in Mersea Road, Colchester Picture: Steve Argent (37005-2)
Three fire engines and an aerial ladder platform were sent to Mersea Road, Colchester, after the blaze was spotted at about 3.36am yesterday.
Firefighters using breathing equipment went inside the house to make sure no-one was inside. But they retreated and fought the blaze from outside as the fire took hold and it became too dangerous.
Firefighter Chris Smith, of Colchester fire station, said: "By the time firefighters went in it had been going for quite some time. We decided to withdraw because the roof started falling in."
Mersea Road was closed as the crews, from Colchester, Wivenhoe and Chelmsford, tackled the fire then tried to make the gutted house safe.
Police scenes of crime officers were called in to start investigating the cause and the council was asked to fence off the building for safety.
Published Monday July 12, 2004
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