Fire in Park Street Westcliff leaves two injured

He was plucked from the blaze by a brave passer-by.

Firefighters have been facing searing heat and thick black smoke as they fought the flames in Park Street after being called out at about 7.35pm tonight.

The fire in Westcliff tonight

Using a specialist aerial ladder platform and fighting fire from neighbouring properties they worked hard to contain the blaze and stop it spreading to nearby homes. 

As well as tackling the fire, crews treated a man in his fifties and left him in the care of the ambulance service. A second casualty also needed assistance.

Police say a man was rescued from the property and taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition.

Update 22:10

Crews have now put out the fire and one relief crew will remain at the scene to check for hotspots.

A man, who was pulled from the building by a passer-by, was treated at the scene by firefighters and left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Group Manager Martyn Hare said: "Crews did a fantastic job of getting on top of the fire so quickly and stopping it from spreading.

"I'd also like to commend the passer-by for helping the man out of the building."

An investigation will be carried out to establish the cause of the fire

Police and ambulance crews on the scene in Westcliff

The fire service says the flat fire was in a row of terraced properties and firefighters tackled the fire from the adjacent buildings to stop it from spreading.

Crews from Southend, Leigh, Shoebury, Hawkwell and the aerial ladder from Grays were all called in to the emergency.

Residents whose properties have been affected by the fire are being supported at Southend's Civic Centre in Victoria Avenue.

Police are investigating and the road has been closed while an investigation takes place. 

A police spokesman said: "The road will remain closed while we investigate and we ask that you please avoid the area if possible."

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