Victim of Clacton fire named as Paul Preston

When fire crews arrived at a third-floor flat in Langham Drive, Clacton, on Monday morning, they forced their way in.

They found the flat was full of smoke and discovered the body of a man, named locally as Paul Preston.

Crews managed to stop the fire spreading any further.

Neighbours confirmed the body of Mr Preston’s dog, Jess, was also recovered from the flat.

One resident, a mother aged 26, said the community had lost a “humble and kind” friend.

She said: “Myself and my son would always go past and see Paul and his dog Jess, a Staffy - she was always as good as gold.

“He has always been with her, she’d never leave his side as far as I could tell.

“I’ve lived here for seven years and he’s always been here.

“He always seemed to me to be humble and kind.

“Paul very much kept himself to himself.

“He never caused any problems, he always said hello.”

She added: “There must have been a dozen or more firefighters. They brought his body out and then the body of the dog.

“It was wrapped from head to toe in a fluffy blanket.

“It was heart-breaking - that dog was his everything.

“They were the perfect companions.

“If my boy ever asked to stroke her he would say ‘yes, she doesn’t bite’."

Lee Hurst, watch manager and investigator with Essex Fire Service, ruled the fire was accidentally started.

He said: "We now know that the fire started in the lounge.

“The area first affected by the fire had a portable halogen heater and an electrical extension lead, and it is here where we think the fire started.

“This was a tragic accident and, over the coming days and weeks, we will be working hard to spread our safety messages and offer reassurance and advice to residents to try and make sure this doesn't happen again.”

The flat, located on the third floor of a Tendring Council-owned property, was completely smoke-logged

Mr Hurst issued safety warnings over leaving portable heaters unattended, leaving them on while sleeping and ensuring they are positioned well away from anything which could knock them over.

He also urged residents to refrain from buying second hand halogen heaters, never to power a halogen heater from an extension lead and to regularly inspect heaters for damage.

He added: “The best advice I can give is make sure that you have, and regularly test, a smoke alarm on every level of your home.

“It is the single most important piece of safety equipment in any home.

“A smoke alarm provides vital warning that a fire has broken out waking sleeping people up and giving everyone time to get safely out.”

Firefighters were called to the third floor flat just after 9am, when a neighbour noticed the stench of smoke.

The fire was extinguished by 10.10am.

The block of flats is owned by Tendring Council.

Paul Honeywood, councillor responsible for housing, said: “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victim’s family and friends, and we will of course be supporting them through this difficult time.

“We are co-operating fully with the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, though we now know from the investigators that the fire is thought to have started in a halogen portable heater.

“Support and advice has also been given to neighbouring tenants.

“We would repeat general safety advice from the fire brigade to not leave these heaters on while asleep or unattended and to not use an extension lead to power them – and most importantly, as at all times, to regularly check your smoke alarm.”