Overview
- A garden fire rapidly spread into a terrace on Monday evening after strong winds drove flames through first-floor windows into the roof space, damaging four gardens and making the end house uninhabitable.
- Firefighters from Weeley, Clacton, Manningtree, Brightlingsea and Colchester and an aerial ladder platform brought the blaze under control and remained on scene to damp down and check for hotspots.
- Three people were taken to hospital by ambulance and a fourth went to hospital independently after being assessed, with crews and paramedics treating multiple casualties at the scene.
- Separately, two small early‑hours fires on Wellesley Road and Old Road are being treated as suspected arson, Essex Police said they do not believe the incidents are linked and have issued crime reference numbers while appealing for CCTV or witness information.
- Local residents helped hose down gardens, a fundraiser has been set up for the displaced family, and authorities urged people to review doorbell or CCTV footage and to report tips anonymously to Firestoppers as inquiries continue.