A FIRE that has left the occupants of a house temporarily homeless was started by an electrical vape charger.

Firefighters were called to reports of a house fire in Jersey Road, Maldon, yesterday at 1.40pm.

Two crews from Maldon and crews from Witham, Chelmsford and Colchester went to the scene.

Firefighters said the first floor of the house was full of smoke and the bedroom was engulfed with flames.

The fire had spread to the roof of the home.

Firefighters wore breathing apparatus as they entered the property and extinguished the flames.

Martin Cable, the watch manager at Maldon fire station, said: "This fire has caused extensive damage to the house and the occupants will not be able to live there for some time - there is a lot of damage to repair.

"The fire started in the bedroom where a vape, which was plugged into a charger, was left on the bed unattended.

"The vape overheated and caught the bedding and mattress alight. The fire then spread around the bedroom.

"Incidents like this show how important it is to think about how you should charge your electrical items safely.

“We advise that you only use a reputable charger and not a cheap alternative, which are often not tested or conform to safety standards.

“We also urge people not to leave any electrical items charging unattended and to place the items on a fire-resistant surface, not a bed or sofa which are much more flammable."