Firefighters called to house after pan left on hob

Ben Stapleton, watch manager, said it was not known if the pan had been left from the morning or overnight

Firefighters were called to a house fire after a pan had been left on the hob.

Essex Fire and Rescue said it was called by residents of a property in Wharf Close in Stanford-le-Hope in Thurrock, Essex at 08:40 GMT after they noticed smoke coming from their kitchen.

The family received treatment at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Ben Stapleton, watch manager, said: "What we do know is that there were no working smoke alarms, so it was fortunate the family noticed the smoke in time."

The service firefighters discovered smoke throughout the house and ventilated the property to clear the smoke.

Mr Stapleton said it was not known how long the pan had been left on the hob for.

He said: "Had this occurred at night, the fire could have spread undetected, potentially leading to a much more serious situation.

"Working smoke alarms are essential - they alert you and your family at the earliest sign of fire. They save lives and protect your property, which is why it's so important to have one on every level of your home."

After the incident, crews installed smoke alarms in the property and reminded neighbours of the importance of having working smoke alarms.