Firefighters tackle flat fire in student accommodation caused by chip pan FIREFIGHTERS from across north Essex were called to a third-floor flat fire in student accommodation. A total of six crews rushed to the blaze in a communal area of a student flat in Lightship Way, Colchester shortly before 3pm on Sunday. The fire was caused after a chip pan was left unattended and caught alight. The building s evacuation policy was immediately implemented, although there were reports that not everyone left the building. Crews from Colchester, Clacton, Manningtree, Brightlingsea and Wivenhoe managed to extinguish the blaze by 3.54pm. Following the incident, firefighters have issued a safety message to students and high-rise building residents.
Students from the University of Essex were evacuated from an accommodation block in Colchester's Lightship Way after a chip pan was left unattended and caught fire.
Firefighters are urging homeowners to have their chimneys serviced after a wood burner almost spread throughout a house.
Two engines from Colchester were.