Firefighters from seven Essex fire stations were called to a major building fire on West Avenue in Clacton in the early hours of this morning. The blaze, reported at around 12:35am, completely engulfed a property, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky.
Crews from Clacton, Dovercourt, Manningtree, Weeley, Colchester, Tiptree and Chelmsford worked through the night and brought the fire under control by 8am. However, firefighters remain on scene throughout the day to dampen down any hotspots.
Nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution and provided accommodation at a nearby Premier Inn, which also served as a refuge centre. Locals have been advised to keep windows and doors shut due to the large amount of smoke.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire. Incident Commander Nick Singleton thanked crews for their efforts in preventing the fire from spreading to nearby buildings, and praised emergency services partners, the Premier Inn, and local residents for their cooperation.
Road closures are in place on Jackson Road, Penfold Road and Agate Road while crews remain at the scene. Essex Police are supporting the fire service and have urged the public to follow evacuation directions.
