A part-time firefighter fought back the flames with an extinguisher in a bid to save his pub from being burnt to the ground.
Chris Sanderson, 42, and his son and nephew battled to control the blaze, which broke out at the Royal Albion in High Street, Walton.
It is believed it was started deliberately.
Mr Sanderson, who is a retained firefighter at Frinton, was asleep when he was alerted to the danger.
The flames had spread from three cars and a motorbike outside the premises to the pub itself, and it was in danger of going up in smoke.
"We managed to hold the fire back until the crews arrived," said Mr Sanderson.
"Two of the cars - a BMW and an escort van - were mine, along with a motorbike, and there was thousands of pounds of damage there without what happened to the building."
A Porsche was also destroyed.
PC Phil Robinson, of Walton police, said the fire was being treated as suspicious.
The drama started at about 2.50am yesterday
The fire started in a large blue wheelie bin, spread to the vehicles and eventually the pub.
Mr Sanderson said the fire had affected the main bar in the pub, and he was using another area in a bid to stay open and serve customers.
Published Friday, June 27, 2003
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