Family home in Corringham destroyed by fire

The fire ripped through the home, belonging to Amy McVey, 22, her partner and her two girls, after building work was being carried out on the roof.

The blaze is believed to have started accidentally from an hot torch’s ember catching alight.

The fire then spread by the strong wind and eventually engulfing the home, in Birchwood Road, Corringham.

McVey said: “My partner, his friends and family were laying a new felted flat roof to the back of the house.

“We are not entirely sure, but we believe an ember from a hot torch was caught in the wind which set alight to the main roof.

“It also burnt the entirety of the first floor to such an extent that it completely collapsed through to the ground floor.

“My partner and his friends tried to extinguish the fire with hoses and buckets of water, however the fire services arrived extremely quickly and extinguished it.”

Four fire engines attended the incident, which happened early on Sunday afternoon.

The semi-detached home now cannot be lived in.

The first floor has caved in, the roof is now made up of only burnt beams, the windows are smashed and the inside walls have been damaged by smoke.

The fire even burnt the neighbour’s door.

Now without a home, Amy has moved in to her auntie’s place with her partner and her two daughters.

She is unsure of what she is doing next.

Amy’s cousin, Charlie McVey, said: “The neighbours have been really friendly and helped them out.”

Amy also paid her gratitude to the fire service who came to the rescue.

She said: “We would like to extend our credit to the firefighters that were there as they were absolutely amazing and very supportive.”

A spokesman for the fire service said: “A home in Corringham has suffered extensive damage after a serious fire that started accidentally by builders working on the roof.

"When firefighters arrived they reported the fire has spread to the whole roof and the whole house was on fire.”