A man escaped from a burning flat by jumping onto the roof of a double decker bus.
The blaze took hold above Ben's Cafe in Braintree High Street at about 7.30pm on Wednesday.
On arrival, firefighters used a ladder to reach the man, who is in his 40s, and bring him to safety.
He was treated by paramedics after breathing in smoke.
Crews arriving at the scene reported the first floor and roof of the three-storey flat was well alight and the first floor heavily smoke logged.
In total, four appliances were sent to the scene, plus an aerial ladder platform and an incident command unit.
By 9.10pm firefighters said steady progress was being made in extinguishing flames.
Crews were still there at 10.30pm with the blaze under control.
Yolande Turgoose of Fleurtations Flowers, which is in the same block of buildings, said: "We were working quite late because it’s Valentines.
"We were working out the back and the first we heard was the fire brigade knocking at the door saying we had to get out of the building.
"It wasn’t over our side but I think it had spread along the floors, it was three floors above the shop.
"It’s quite bad but the emergency services have been brilliant, they can only do what they can do."
Her daughter, Nadine Keeble, 29, said: "It was huge, the back end of Ben’s Café was pretty much all on fire.
"It didn’t look as bad from the front, but from the back it was awful."
The fire was extinguished by 3.15am.
A joint Police and Fire Service investigation will be carried out to establish the cause.
UPDATE 11.20am on Thursday 12th:
Business owners left stricken by a fire in Braintree High Street have been given a temporary place to trade at their busiest time of year.
Fleurtations Flowers was left water damaged after firefighters put out a huge blaze at the flat next door last night.
Co-owner Nadine Keeble said it was a “devastating disaster” which has left her fearing for the future of the business.
The 29-year-old said: “The top of the shop is badly water damaged. We are going to see if there is a free shop we can move in to, if not we will have to work from home.
“We are only a family-run business, it’s just the three of us and it’s the busiest time of year for us.
“I didn’t go to sleep last night and I haven’t eaten, I just feel sick.
“It’s a devastating disaster, I feel heartbroken. We probably won’t be able to go back into the front.”
However, managers at George Yard acted quickly and the florists have now moved their remaining stock to a free unit opposite the old Vodafone store.
Co-owner Yolande Turgoose said: “It’s just about keeping the business running really, we get fresh deliveries every day so that side of things is okay.
“I haven’t even thought about the value of what’s been lost, it’s too early to say.”
George Yard manager Brenda Baker said the shopping centre would offer the same help to any town centre trader hit by disaster.
She said: “I am horrified that a flower shop should have this happen to them right before the most important weekend of the year.”
Meanwhile firefighters have this morning been examining the roof of BENS Cafe and have discussed the possiblity that chimneys may need to be pulled down.
UPDATE 11.40am on Thursday 12th
Police have confirmed they are treating the incident as arson.
A spokesman said officers are looking to trace a man who was seen fleeing the scene and is believed to be around 19 years of age.
Anybody with any information can contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
UPDATE 12.20am on Thursday 12th
First Buses have tweeted that their services have been disrupted because part of the High Street is closed off.
First Essex @FirstEssex ·
Braintree High St is closed to all traffic. Bus services are having to divert via Victoria St, Railway St and South St. Pls expect delays.
UPDATE 4.50pm on Thursday 12th
A bus driver has been hailed a hero after he helped rescue a man stranded in a third-floor flat during a fire.
Andy Waterman, a driver for First Essex, was driving the out-of-service bus back to the depot when he was flagged down by members of the public.
Mr Waterman, of West Mersea, positioned his double decker close to the roof of the flat, allowing the man to jump to safety.
He said: “A group of people started flagging me down and they were asking me to stop.
"I asked them what the problem was and they said a man was stuck on the roof of his flat because it was on fire.
"I drove nearer and all I could see was thick, black smoke.
"I saw the man and thought ‘We’ve got to get him to safety’.”
Mr Waterman positioned the bus as close to the flat as possible and the man then jumped 10 feet onto the roof.
The fire brigade then rescued the man from the roof of the bus.
Mr Waterman said: “The police told me that I did a good job. It wasn’t until I got home that someone said that I had saved a life.
“I have been driving buses for eight years and nothing like this has happened before. I am just pleased the man is alive.”
Adrian Jones, managing director of First Essex, said: “We are very proud of Andy. He was in the right place at the right time.
"We are pleased to hear the man is okay and we wish him a quick recovery.”
Mr Waterman is set to receive a commendation from Acting Chief Fire Officer Adam Eckley.
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