A man has appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in connection with a fire which caused 16 flats in Heybridge to be evacuated.
Daniel Grant Hilton, 29, of Wood Road, Heybridge, has been charged with arson with intent or reckless as to whether life was endangered, criminal damage to property valued under £5000, and assault by beating on his partner, Lucy Cavanagh.
The fire left three flats in the three storey block uninhabitable with powerless residents having to find an alternative place to stay while watching the inferno destroyed the flat.
The dwellings contained nine people inside including six adults and three children.
A joint police and fire investigation will be carried out in due course to establish the cause of the fire.
Hilton was remanded in custody to re-appear at Chelmsford Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing on August 26.
