FIREFIGHTERS were called to an early morning fire at a house in Pitsea.
Neighbours raised the alarm after seeing thick black smoke was seen pouring from the terraced property in Braemar Walk at around 5.50am.
Crews from Basildon used thermal imaging equipment to check no one was inside and had extinguished the blaze by 6.30am.
The house was left heavily smoke logged.
Police and the Fire Service are carrying out a joint investigation to find out what caused the fire.
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