A fire tore through the roof of a house in South Woodham Ferrers in the early hours of this morning.
Firefighters were called to Cullver Rise at 3.31am to find the roof was 100 per cent alight and heavily smoke logged.
The smoke affected two further houses.
Crews extinguished the fire by 5.20am using two hose reels and two main jets.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage and Eseex County Fire and Rescue Service will carry out an investigation.
