A FAMILY were made homeless after fire tore through their flat in Purfleet.

A young girl, who was trapped, had to be rescued through a window by firefighters using a ladder at the Brightstone Court flat in Oakhill Road.

Two other people, both adults from the same family, also had to be rescued but were helped downstairs by firefighters.

Neighbouring flats were searched and evacuated but no one was reported missing or trapped.

The incident commander praised firefighters for their quick-thinking.

Station Officer John Lloyd, incident commander, said: "The mother and father were brought to safety down the stairs while crews got a ladder up to the young girl who was trapped by a window and quickly got her down and out of danger. 

"It is thanks to their quick action that no one has been hurt or killed in this fire."

Four crews rushed to the scene in Purfleet after being called just after 7pm.

On arrival, they found a well developed fire emitting a thick, dark smoke plume.

After rescuing the two adults and young girl, crews spent two-and-a-half hours battling the blaze and as of 10.30pm were still at the scene damping down.

SO Lloyd added:"Firefighters did an excellent job containing this blaze to the flat where it started. When we arrived we were faced with an already well developed fire which could easily have spread but the action taken by crews not only led to the family being rescued but to the fire being contained."