FIREFIGHTERS are reminding residents of the importance of smoke alarms after a house fire.

Two crews from Essex Fire attended a roof fire in Bulphan at 7:30pm yesterday (March 4).

First at the scene were two fire engines from Basildon and Orsett after a detached house was heavily smoke logged with a fire in the roof.

Further assistance was then required as two more crews from Basildon and Brentwood attended as well as an aerial ladder platform from Grays Fire Station.

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Crews extinguished the fire by 9:42pm and an investigation will now be carried out to determine the cause.

A family of five had escaped the property when their smoke alarms went off and they could smell smoke.

Syd Barrett, station manager and incident commander, said: “This incident really highlights why it’s so important to have working smoke alarms in your home.

“Working smoke alarms save lives.

"We recommend you have one on every level of your home and that you test them regularly.”