A MAN who suffered a fire at his flat in Burnham was left devastated, following a cigarette not being properly extinguished and an armchair catching alight.
Jake Tant, 21, has been left with fire damage at his flat, with most of his house being affected by the fire.
Fire crews were called to the flat at around 2.12am yesterday.
Mr Tant said: “My landlord is doing everything they can to help and support me in this terrible situation.
“It has affected me emotionally and physically because everything I owned is now gone within seconds.
“All the memories are gone in a flash, and nothing is salvageable.”
The incident highlights the importance of fire safety by Essex County Fire and Rescue to stop the repeat of an incident such as this one.
Watch Manager Jon Vincent said: "The occupant had put his cigarette in an ash tray next his armchair when he got up to go to the kitchen.
"Unfortunately, because the ash try was overflowing and cigarette was not properly extinguished, it set the armchair alight.
"Thankfully he noticed the fire, got out safely, along with his dog, and called 999."
The fire was extinguished by 3.18am and fire crews remained at the scene until 4.20am.
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