An elderly woman escaped a fire in her Upminster home that is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike.
Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers were called to the semi-detached house of two floors on Humber Drive, yesterday evening.
The woman escaped the property before the Brigade arrived and fortunately was uninjured. A local resident has set up a Just Giving page to help the elderly lady https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/FundsForHumberDriveHouse-LightningStrike
Around half of the roof and part of the first floor was damaged by fire.
Watch Manager Mark McLachlan who as at the scene, said: “As we arrived there was a big cloud of smoke above the property and flames were about to break through the roof.
“The crews did a very good job, they got to work quickly and worked hard to bring the fire under control particularly Firefighter Springford and Firefighter Hutchison whose initial actions saved the house.”
Firefighters from Hornchurch, Dagenham, Romford and Harold Hill fire stations attended the blaze.
The Brigade was called at 2020 and the fire was under control at 2152.