FIREFIGHTERS issued safety advice after a fire at a bungalow in Wickford today (Friday, 1 March).

Crews from Basildon and Southend were sent to Fourth Avenue at 10.15am where they found smoke coming from a multi plug extension socket in the kitchen.

Crew Manager Kris Mortimer said: "The extension socket had been overloaded with too many appliances plugged into it and it caught fire.

"Thankfully an occupant saw the smoke and called 999 and the fire was actually out when we arrived.

"We are seeing this kind of fire more and more, particularly involving cheap, poor quality extension sockets. We would urge residents to only use one adaptor per socket; don't plug one adaptor into another."

Crews used a thermal imaging camera to make sure the socket was safe.

They also fitted a smoke alarm because the device in the bungalow did not sound.

Mr Mortimer added: "Although the smoke alarm was working, it was not in the best position to detect smoke so we fitted a new one. 

"If you haven't got at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home, get in touch by visiting essex-fire.gov.uk/book or calling 0300 303 0088."