A CIGARETTE is believed to have caused a raging fire at a home in Grays.

Two crews of firefighters from Grays Fire Station were called to a property in Blackshots Lane, at 11.15am on Friday.

They attended the scene after a young Thurrock resident was alerted to a blaze at the back-end of his home by passers-by. 

Upon arrival, firefighters established the fire had started outside and quickly spread to the rear door and fascias, and had started to spread into the kitchen, which was now heavily smoke-logged.

The crews worked hard to extinguish the fire, and cleared the property of smoke by 11:49am, before also fitting two smoke alarms before leaving.

The inferno is thought to have been caused by a cigarette, which was discarded near some rubbish, outside. 

After a short time, the cigarette re-ignited and set the rubbish on fire, which quickly spread to the back door and fascias.

Watch manager at Grays, Gary Bannister, said: “I really want to praise the crews from Grays, who acted quickly to prevent further damage to the property.”