Dramatic images show huge inferno ripping through house in Essex

Dramatic images show huge inferno ripping through £800,000 house in Essex after owners fled when they were woken by their dogs as blaze took hold

• The home owners were alerted to the fire by their dogs barking at 2.43am
• Firefighters extinguished the blaze at the detached house in Takeley, Essex 

Firefighters this morning extinguished a major house fire after the owners were alerted to the blazing inferno by their chihuahuas barking. 

Fire crews from five different services rushed to the scene on Dunmow Road in Takeley, Essex after the owners called the fire brigade at 2.43am this morning. 

The couple that live in the detached house in the village near Stansted Airport heard their dogs barking, before noticing the fire in an outbuilding behind their property. 

The fire soon spread to the lavish property’s roof, before fire crews extinguished the blaze, with the help of an extendable turret from Stansted Airport. 

The large detached house, which sits on a street with properties that have sold for more than £1 milllion, has, however, been left uninhabitable.

Fire crews from five different services rushed to the scene on Dunmow Road in Takeley, Essex

The owners of the detached house were alerted to the fire by their dogs barking

Neighbours reported waking up to a ‘sea of orange’ before seeing the owners of the house standing in the garden with their two chihuahuas. 

The neighbours then helped the fire crews save three horses in a nearby stable, by leading them through the smoke and embers. 

One neighbour said: ‘It was absolutely terrifying – the stables had filled with smoke, the horses were terrified and we had to lead them through blowing smoke and blowing embers. 

‘They were really good in the circumstances, but they were obviously traumatised by what was going on as there were blue lights everywhere, there was the fire and it was dark.

‘You’re on autopilot then afterwards the shock hits you, but you can’t leave a horse to die of smoke inhalation.’

Fire crews were assisted by services from nearby Stansted Airport

The fire has left the detached property ‘uninhabitable’

Essex County Fire & Rescue Service station manager Terry Maher said: ‘The owners were alerted to the fire by their dogs barking in the early hours of this morning.

‘The fire started in an outbuilding at the rear of the property and quickly spread to the roof of the house.

‘Crews worked incredibly hard, particularly due to the limited water supply, and did a fantastic job in saving the property and horses who were in a nearby stable.

‘I’d also like to thank Stansted Airport Fire Service who were able to support us,’ Mr Maher said. 

Dunmow Road is now set to remain closed while the fire crew’s work continues, and a diversion will remain in place. 

An investigation will now be carried out to determine the causes of the fire.  

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