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Basildon house fire could have started with discarded cigarette, fire crews say

News imageEssex County Fire & Rescue Service sfEssex County Fire & Rescue Service
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service was called to a Basildon house fire

A discarded cigarette may have started a fire that spread across five homes in Essex, fire crews said.

The fire spread across the houses on Pitseaville Grove in Basildon at 13:00 GMT on Monday.

Residents have been placed in temporary accommodation.

"It is believed a discarded cigarette may have caused the fire, which has been recorded as accidental," a fire service spokesperson said.

The house where the fire had started has been badly damaged and the other four properties will need to be assessed by structural engineers.

News imageEssex County Fire & Rescue Service Firefighters at a house fireEssex County Fire & Rescue Service
The fire started at a single property before it spread across a row of terraced houses

Group manager Mark Eaglestone said: "The fire started to the rear of a mid-terrace house, spread through the property and into the roof. It then affected the roofs of five other terraced properties.

"Crews worked extremely hard to create a fire break and did a fantastic job of stopping it from spreading further."

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