FIREFIGHTERS were called to a blaze on the outside of an office block in Eastwoodbury Crescent, Southend yesterday at 5pm.

With the support of Southend Airport firefighters, crews wearing breathing apparatus used one main jet and two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire by 6pm.

Sub Officer, Lee Burling, of Southend Fire Station, said: “We were called to a fire in the wood cladding of an office building.

“Southend Airport firefighters made an initial attack of the fire, which saved the building from further damage. We entered the building and made the incident scene safe.

“An excellent response from a member of the public who noticed the fire and raised the alarm in good time.”

The fire was caused by an accidental smoking material and part of the outside facial area was damaged.