The heroic efforts of one man helped ensure a blazing block of flats was evacuated and disaster prevented.

The fire broke out in a top floor house at Theydon Bold, Woodland Avenue, Hutton, just a few buildings away from where three young children where killed in a similar incident, two years ago.

The alarm was raised at just before 1am on Saturday, just 13 days shy of the two-year anniversary of the deaths of brothers, Jack, six, Lewis, nine and Ricky Emptage, 12.

Hero - Mark Clapp, helped avert a tragedy by evacuating his family and neighbours

Father of two, Mark Clapp, 28, was working late in his home when he heard a loud bang outside.

He said: "There was this thud outside so I went to investigate and I found my next door neighbour, Mick collapsed on the floor.

"There was smoke pouring from his front door and he was black all over and gagging for breath.

"I quickly closed the door to my house and helped Mick outside, then I ran back up to get my family out."

Gutted - Firefighters survey the damage

Mark got back inside and grabbed his two young children, nine-year-old James and Georgina, seven, who were both fast asleep and called for his wife, Sonia to get their pet dog, Buster to safety as well.

Once they were all outside, Mark raced back into the building for the second time to alert neighbours. He ran up and down the three floors, ringing doorbells and banging on front doors to get everyone evacuated.

Just one man could not be accounted for when the fire fighters arrived at the scene and he was quickly found in his downstairs flat and was treated for smoke inhalation.

Five engines, two from Brentwood and one each from Ingatestone, Ongar and Billericay attended the blaze and six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire for more than three hours. The cause of the fire is believed to have started with a small kitchen fire.

Mr Clapp added: "I have lived here for nine years and when I saw the smoke I just thought of the tragedy two years ago and thought not again."

Published Tuesday, March 26, 2002