Update: Report from Essex Fire Service

CREWS have issued safety advice following a fire at a mid terraced home in Harlow.

Our Control team were called to reports of a fire in a three-storey property in Purford Green today at 6.09pm.

Two crews from Harlow and one from Epping attended.

Watch Manager Ross Daynes said: “A member of the public gave our Control team a really good description of the fire, including that it had spread to the roof, at which point I requested the third appliance.

“On arrival we found a well-developed fire in a second floor bedroom. Crews worked really hard and did a brilliant job of stopping the fire from spreading to the adjoining rooms and properties.

“The incident shows the importance of keeping doors closed at night if possible, to act as a fire break. The bedroom where the fire started sustained significant damage, but an adjacent room was undamaged because the door was shut.”

Three men were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation.

Crews fully extinguished the fire by 7.14pm. They believe the fire was caused by discarded smoking materials.

Watch Manager Daynes said: “The occupant has discarded his cigarette and went downstairs to the kitchen. When he returned a few minutes later he was faced with a significant fire.

“If you’re a smoker, please make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished, never leave them unattended and never smoke in bed.”

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FIRE has ripped through a townhouse in Harlow.

Essex Fire Crews attended at Purford Green off Tumbler Road at just after 6.30pm this evening (Friday).

Flames leapt out of the top floor window of the three storey property.

There are no reports of any injuries.

All three emergency services were in the scene but it appeared that by 2000 hrs, they were slowly standing down.

YH has contacted the Essex Fire Service press office for more detaisl.

More follows.