An elderly couple escaped from their home without injury after a bedroom went up in flames.
Bedroom blaze - firefighters at the scene Picture: MIKE CLARKE
The box room was gutted by the blaze in Philpott Avenue, Southend, just after 1pm yesterday.
Southend fire station officer Martyn Hodder said: "We believe the cause of the fire is from a carelessly discarded cigarette.
"The gentleman heard the fire alarm and went upstairs and tried to put out the flames with a bowl of water but was beaten back by smoke."
The first floor was left badly blackened.
One of the occupants, who did not wish to be named, said: "The help we received from the council and the fire brigade was so prompt. They were superb."
Published Wednesday, April 16, 2003
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