In the early hours of the morning, a fire broke out at The Quay in Wivenhoe, near Colchester, as a result of a discarded cigarette. The blaze was reported by a vigilant neighbor who witnessed the fire and alerted the firefighters at around 01:15 BST. Upon arrival, the firefighters discovered that the fencing and an outbuilding were engulfed in flames, marking the second incident of a fire caused by discarded cigarettes in just two days, according to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.
Despite the intensity of the blaze, the firefighters managed to prevent it from spreading to the main pub building. Darren Holliday, the watch manager at Colchester Fire Station, emphasized the importance of properly extinguishing cigarettes to avoid such incidents. Holliday highlighted the significance of being cautious, especially during the warm weather and amidst current wildfire warnings.
Upon investigating the scene and reviewing CCTV footage, it was revealed that the fire originated from a cigarette that had been carelessly discarded in the outdoor area approximately four hours before the blaze erupted. The cigarette had smoldered slowly before setting nearby materials ablaze, leading to a significant fire. The same crew had recently dealt with another fire caused by a discarded cigarette at a property in Cranesbill Close, Stanway, further underscoring the importance of responsible cigarette disposal
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