Massive fire guts Clacton building - homes evacuated

Firefighters tackle a major blaze at a commercial building (Symbolic image) (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP via Getty Images) Getty Images

A major fire completely destroyed a commercial building in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, forcing residents to evacuate their homes in the early hours of Monday. According to Mirror reports, the blaze started at 12:35am on West Avenue, with seven fire stations across Essex responding to tackle the flames. No injuries have been reported despite the severity of the incident.

The building housed Codgers of Clacton furniture store and Easy Mobility Services office, appearing completely gutted by the fire. Images from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service show flames engulfing the entire structure, while later photographs reveal the building was almost completely destroyed along with a vehicle parked outside.

Emergency Response

Incident Commander Nick Singleton confirmed nearby Jackson Road, Penfold Road and Agate Road were all shut as firefighters battled the blaze through the night. Residents living close to the fire were evacuated from their homes, while others were advised to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke.

Tendring District Council set up a refuge centre for displaced residents. Singleton posted an update at 7am Monday morning confirming the fire had been extinguished, though crews remained at the scene to "monitor and dampen down any hotspots".

Business Impact

John Jacobs, operations support lead at Easy Mobility Services, said the premises had been "completely gutted". He added: "All we know is it happened overnight, we understand the whole block is going to be condemned, it will need to come down as far as we know."

Jacobs continued: "We're disappointed for our customers. We have a very big customer base in the Clacton area, most of whom are disabled and have mobility issues, so our focus right now is to make sure we continue to meet their requirements and serve them." A spokeswoman from Easy Mobility Services confirmed the fire did not start in their premises.

Essex fire service said the cause of the blaze will be investigated when it is "safe to do so". Singleton thanked crews who "worked extremely hard to stop the fire from spreading to nearby buildings" and praised emergency services partners, the Premier Inn for providing accommodation, and local residents for their patience during the incident.

Sources used: "Sky News", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.