Residents feared for their homes as a fire swept through a workshop and two garden sheds in Tower Street, Brightlingsea.
Anxious householders watched as firefighters, some wearing breathing apparatus, tackled the blaze from two directions. Essex Fire and Rescue confirmed that the blaze, fanned by strong winds, was caused by “a bonfire that had spread out of control” in a garden backing on to Lime Street at around 9pm on Tuesday evening, August 26.
Watch: Workshop and sheds blaze
Tower Street resident Paul Lindley, along with other neighbours, used a garden hose to try and prevent the fire reaching the workshop where his five classic cars and and two motorbikes were stored, but was beaten back by the ferocity of the flames. “They’ve all gone,” he said.
Explosions could be heard as gas cylinders and paint tins exploded, sending flames high into the air and causing a pall of smoke over the lower part of the town. Essex Fire warned residents to keep doors and windows closed.
Devastation – the aftermath of the workshop fire
No-one was hurt in the fire, but resident Bev Maltby, whose shed containing garden equipment was destroyed, said: “We were really worried about the house.”
“It was really scary,” said another resident. “It went up so quickly.”
Six fire crews – from Brightlingsea, Clacton, Colchester, Weeley and Wivenhoe – put out the fire by midnight, but two crews remained at the scene to dampen the area and monitor hotspots
The Incident Commander, Station Manager Jez Tuckwell, said: “We’d ask residents to hold off having bonfires at the moment until we’ve had some more rain. While the ground is still so dry, it only takes an ember for a bonfire to spread out of control like this one.
“If you are planning to have a bonfire, please make sure to set it up well away from anything it could set alight like trees, fences, sheds etc and please keep an eye on it at all times.”
