A quick-thinking Southend man had been praised by firefighters for battling severe flames and smoke in his flat.
The blaze caused severe smoke and heat damage to the kitchen of his first floor flat in Maldon Road, Southend, last night - but fire crews say that it could have been worse.
Pete Bennett, of Southend fire station, said: "The sensible actions of this man saved severe damage to his flat or something even more serious."
The fire started when he left his chip pan unattended and returned to find it had caught fire.
He tried to fight the flames but the blaze was already out of control, so he closed the door to the kitchen and fled the flat before calling the fire brigade.
Published Monday October 14, 2002
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