STAPLEFORD ABBOTTS: Fire severely damages house

9:14pm Saturday 5th July 2008

FOUR people have been left homeless after a blaze severely damaged their house.

A family dog was also killed after a fire took hold of a property in Tysea Cottages, in Tysea Hill, Stapleford Abbotts, yesterday (July 4).

The four occupants of the council property were unharmed although several small pets are still missing.

Crews from Ongar, Harlow, and Loughton were among those called to the blaze which started shortly after 10:30pm.

On arrival, they found the two-storey home "100 per cent well alight"

Firefighters donned breathing apparatus and entered the property to fight the blaze, but it proved to be too fierce and they were eventually withdrawn for their own safety to continue the battle outside.

After fighting for an hour to save the building, authorities had to call in an aerial ladder and request the attendance of the Gas and Electricity Boards to help secure the safety of the property.

The blaze eventually spread to the roof, which led to its collapse before the fire was brought under control shortly before 3am.

Fire investigation authorities are still looking into the cause of the incident.

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