Building Evacuated After Flat Fire Attributed to Discarded Cigarette

A fire, which extensively damaged a flat and necessitated the evacuation of an entire residential building, originated from a discarded cigarette, a fire service has confirmed. Emergency services were dispatched to the sheltered accommodation at Regency Lodge, Elmden Court, in Clacton, at 11:14 GMT on Sunday. The call followed reports of smoke emanating from windows on the second floor. The Essex Fire and Rescue Service reported that the entire block required evacuation, and ten flats situated on the second floor sustained smoke damage. Consequently, some residents have been relocated to temporary housing. Watch manager Gary Clarke issued a caution to smokers, stating: “If you need to lie down, don’t light up. You could doze off and set your house or your bed on fire.” He further advised individuals who smoke to ensure their smoking materials are fully extinguished, to avoid smoking in bed, and to verify that smoke alarms are operational. A team of eight firefighters, equipped with breathing apparatus, spent an hour bringing the blaze under control.