A Southend family has been left without a home after a fierce fire tore through much of their property on Monday afternoon, causing severe damage. A father and daughter who were inside the property were lucky to escape with their lives.
The blaze, which broke out in Brightwell Avenue, Westcliff—near Fairfax Drive—is thought to have been started deliberately in an outdoor shed, before rapidly spreading to the house.
Inside at the time were a father and his daughter, who luckily managed to escape unharmed before the flames engulfed their home.
The family however was unable to locate their cat, which its feared may have not escaped the house in time.
The fire has caused significant damage to both the roof and the upper floors of the property.
Three fire crews from Rochford, Leigh, and Southend rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call at 3:53pm. Firefighters battled the flames, which had spread to both floors and the roof of the terraced property, managing to bring the situation under control by 4:23pm.
A spokesperson for Essex County Fire & Rescue Service confirmed the details, stating: “We were called to reports of a fire in Brightwell Avenue, Westcliff today (31 March) at 3.53pm. Crews from Rochford, Leigh, and Southend attended and extinguished a fire affecting the roof and both floors of a terraced property by 4.23pm. An investigation will be carried out to establish the cause.”
The aftermath has left the family’s home uninhabitable, with extensive fire, smoke, and water damage throughout the property. Some of the local community is now rallying around to offer support, as the family faces the heartbreaking task of rebuilding their lives from scratch.
A spokesperson for the fire service has now confirmed that the cause of the fire was deliberate, which has prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A relative of the family, Robert Moores, expressed their shock and sorrow at the incident. “This house has been my brother’s home for many years, and unfortunately, they have lost everything,” Robert shared. “Thankfully, no one was injured, and no one had to be hospitalised, but the emotional toll is immeasurable. They’ve only got the clothes on their backs.”
The family has since been offered accommodation in hotels by relatives, and emergency housing assistance was provided by the police.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the family, with the aim of providing financial support as they begin to recover from the ordeal. “If anyone can donate, it would help my brother and his family tremendously,” he said.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly fires can escalate, and residents are urged to check fire safety precautions, particularly around garden structures and outbuildings.