A YOUNG woman has been left homeless after a fire which caused neighbouring flats to be evacuated tore through her kitchen.

Firefighters rushed to St James Court, off Western Esplanade, Canvey, at about 1.35pm yesterday after receiving reports of smoke coming out of a flat.

Crews from Basildon, Canvey, and Rayleigh fire stations all attended after reports of a fie in the block of flats.

The fire service added the flat kitchen erupted in flames after cooking was left unattended.

Echo: Aftermath - the kitchen was 'gutted' by the blazeAftermath - the kitchen was 'gutted' by the blaze (Image: Essex Fire and Rescue)

The block of flats was evacuated while firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the blaze.

Two ambulance service vehicles also rushed to the scene, though eyewitnesses say no-one was injured.

The landlord attended the flat after learning what had happened and said the kitchen had been “gutted” by the blaze.

The tenant’s parents also rushed to St James Court to support their daughter, who was cooking when the fire took hold, and take her back to the family’s home.

Echo: Scene - St James Court, off Western Esplanade on CanveyScene - St James Court, off Western Esplanade on Canvey (Image: Newsquest)

Her mum praised the emergency services for evacuating everyone safely.

“The ambulance service has been to the flats but I’m told all the people and animals inside the building are safe,” she told the Echo.

A neighbour re-entered their smoke-damaged flat to rescue their pet hamster they feared dead once the fire was put out.

Group manager Steve Osborn praised the work of his colleagues and reminded residents of the importance of having a working fire alarm.

Echo: Response - the ambulance service rushed to the sceneResponse - the ambulance service rushed to the scene (Image: Newsquest)

The senior firefighter said: “The crews did a great job to get residents out of the block safely and extinguish the fire quickly to stop it from spreading into other rooms.

“The residents had a smoke alarm in their communal corridor but not in the actual flat.

“We cannot say it enough, it's so important that everyone has a smoke alarm in their property.

“They’re your first warning to a fire and can give you time to safely escape your home and call us quickly.

“If you or someone you know doesn’t have any working smoke alarms at home, we can fit them for free. Please get in touch with our team.”

A spokesman for the ambulance service said two people were assessed at the scene but did not need to go to hospital.