Firefighters and police have launched an investigation into a blaze which badly damaged the bedroom of a Canvey house.
The island's emergency services were called to the blaze, in Second Avenue, on Tuesday night after a woman in her 30s dialled 999.
The three people who were in the home at the time escaped unhurt. Their quick thinking, which prevented the fire burning out of control, was praised by firefighters.
"Even though the fire was confined to one corner of the bedroom, the whole room was badly smokelogged and damaged by the heat. The television was melted," a Canvey leading firefighter said.
"The situation could have been worse if the occupiers hadn't done the right thing. They closed the bedroom door so the fire didn't spread and then left the house."
The spokesman added: "The fire is being treated as suspicious and we will be investigating how it started with police."
Published Thursday October 24, 2002
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