A WOMAN escaped unharmed from a burning house after being woken by the fire alarm.
Firefighters went to the detached house in Steepleview, Laindon, after receiving a call from the owner just before midnight yesterday.
When they arrived they found smoke billowing from the house and a serious fire in the top half.
Firefighters said the fire probably started from an electrical fault in the bathroom.
The homeowner, who is believed to be in her 40s, was asleep upstairs when fire broke out.
Luckily her fire alarm was working and the noise woke her up.
Smelling smoke, she dashed out of the house and rang the fire service who sent two appliances to tackle the blaze.
Leading fire fighter Russell Durant said: "The upstairs was 100 per cent smoke logged and there were serious flames in the bathroom which is now completely gutted.
"The woman is fine because she did the right thing and got out as soon as she heard the fire alarm going off.
"The alarm probably saved her life."
The homeowner is now staying with neighbours.
Firefighters had the fire under control by 12.40am.
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