A 40-year-old man has been left homeless after a faulty fridge caught fire and filled his flat with smoke.
Firefighters from Leigh and Southend discovered smoke billowing from the third-floor flat in London Road, Westcliff, at about 5pm following numerous calls from the public.
An ariel ladder platform from Southend also attended so officers could reach the blaze.
Three residents were evacuated and the flat's owner was taken to Southend Hospital where he was treated for shock and the effects of smoke inhalation.
Neil Fenwick, station commander at Leigh, said: "On arrival it looked very dramatic as there was smoke coming out of both sides of the flat and we did not know what we were looking for.
"It turned out that the man had just taken the fridge out of storage and switched it on before popping next door to see a neighbour.
"He returned to find smoke billowing from his flat."
Published Tuesday January 13, 2004
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