Two beach huts were destroyed in Frinton after embers from a disposable barbecue sparked a fire. Residents are urged to take extra caution when disposing of hot materials.
Firefighters rushed to tackle a blaze involving beach huts near Second Avenue, Frinton, on Friday night.
Crews were called to the scene at around 9pm and worked quickly to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to additional huts.
The fire was fully extinguished by 10pm.
Despite their efforts, two beach huts were completely destroyed and another two huts sustained fire damage.
According to Crew Manager Andy Deex from Essex Fire and Rescue Service, the cause of the fire is believed to be embers from a hot disposable barbecue that had been placed into a nearby bin.
Crew Manager Deex issued a warning:
If you’re using disposable barbecues, please make sure the barbecue and any embers are fully cooled before you put it in a bin. If you’re unsure, cool the barbecue with water before binning it, as it only takes a small ember to start a fire like this.
Residents and visitors are being urged to exercise extra caution when disposing of barbecues and hot materials along the coastline to prevent further incidents.
An investigation into the fire has been concluded, confirming accidental ignition due to barbecue embers.
