ESSEX Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were called to a kitchen fire in a two storey house in Tithelands,Harlow.

Crew members used one hose reel jet to extinguish the fire by 11:58hrs. The occupier, aged in his 60s, was alerted by his smoke alarm.

The fire started after items that were left on a cooker, which had recently been used to cook food, caught alight.

A ventilation fan was used to clear the property of smoke. The casualty was left in the care of the ambulance service.