Devastating Chalkwell house fire was started deliberately

The ferocious fire gutted the family home in Chalkwell, leaving it with a collapsed roof after the blaze broke out at about 5.30am on Saturday.

The owner of the property, on the corner of Kings Road and Chalkwell Avenue, was on holiday at the time, but it is thought he has now returned to see the devastation.

The fire service has confirmed the blaze was started deliberately and it is thought burglars may have set it after breaking in.

Constandina D’Agostino, 54, who lives opposite the house, said: “There are some sick people out there, to burgle the house and then set fire to it.

“We were just going to bed on Sunday and I think we saw the owner’s car outside, so he must have been shocked to see everything.

“He’s been there for about eight years and he’s such a nice guy.

“From the way it went up, the explosions and fires in what seemed like every room, we did think it looked deliberate.”

A spokesman for Essex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed: “The investigation carried out by the team has recorded the fire was started deliberately.”

The owner is believed to live alone, but regularly takes care of his two children, who were there over the Christmas period.

AChristmas tree, with decorations, was visible through a front window yesterday, but little remains of the three-storey building’s roof.

The pavement outside the property was still cordoned off and there has been a police presence on site since the incident.

Structural engineers from Southend Council could not access the property yesterday, as it was deemed unsafe.

It will now be up to the owner’s insurance company to assess the state of the property.

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said it was worrying to hear about the burglary and arson attack.

He added: “Of course it worries you to know it happened so close by. That type of thing never happens around here.

“The house did look quite open though. There never seemed to be any curtains and you could see in.”