Essex firefighters battle major thatched-roof house fire

Firefighters from the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service battled a major thatched-roof fire at a property on Maldon Road in Woodham Mortimer throughout the night.

Crews utilized an aerial ladder platform to combat the blaze from above and faced difficulties with the local water supply. To manage this, firefighters established a water relay, sourcing supplies from a swimming pool and other open-water locations.

Group manager Scott Ford commended the efforts of the crews, noting they would remain on-site to remove the remaining thatch. Maldon Road was expected to remain closed to traffic until late morning while emergency services worked to secure the scene. An investigation into the cause of the fire will be conducted once the area is deemed safe.