POLICE and the fire service are investigating the cause of a fire that ripped through a detached house this morning.
Two fire crews from Rayleigh Wier and one from Canvey were called to the detached property in Manor Road, Benfleet, at 6.40am and found the upstairs was completely filled with smoke.
An Essex Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "Crews wearing breathing apparatus had the flames out by 7.17am then used a thermal imaging camera to check for any remaining hotspots.
"The cause of the fire is unknown, the fire service and police will carry out an investigation."
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