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Sailing club fire put out after spreading to house

Aimme Dexter & Shivani Chaudhari
BBC News, Essex
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service A building on fire. You can see the fire coming out of the building and smoke coming out towards the fire Essex County Fire and Rescue Service
The fire happened on Friday morning

Firefighters have tacked a blaze in a historical sailing club building.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service was called to the University Community Sailing Club in Waterside Marina, Brightlingsea, at about 11:33 BST.

Crews contained the fire and were working to fully extinguish it at 13:15 BST, remaining at the scene to damp down hotspots.

An investigation found the fire was accidental, a spokesperson for the service confirmed.

Martyn Bignell A white building on the left has white smoke coming out of the windows and the roof as there is a fire in the building. On the road in front of the house are multiple firemen, and three of them are going up a ladder into the building.Martyn Bignell
Crews were called to the building in Waterside Marina, Brightlingsea

Quentin Sage, station manager from Brightlingsea Fire Station, said: "We know this has been a really difficult incident for the local community - as a Grade II listed building, it holds a lot of history and a special place in the town."

Martyn Bignell A white building on the left has fire damage that has caused the second floor to go black. On the road in front of the house are multiple firemen and a fire engine. Martyn Bignell
A full investigation will be carried out into the cause of the fire
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service A fire engine with a cherry picker. The building is no longer on fire Essex County Fire and Rescue Service
Fire crews have said the cause of the blaze was accidental

The fire at the sailing club affected both the first floor and roof space and had spread to the roof of a neighbouring residential property.

The Yachtsmans Arms pub, which is nextdoor to the building, said on social media due to the "tragic event" it would be closed until 15:00.

It said: "Our thoughts are with everyone involved at the UCSC and so grateful there were no casualties. We would also thank our local services for their quick response."

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