FIREFIGHTERS entered a smoke-filled house in Wets Thurrock to rescue a pet cat and douse the flames caused by a faulty fridge.

The incident happened in Elm Terrace yesterday (Thursday, 25 February) when two crews from Grays were called to reports of a kitchen fire at 11.45am.

The property was full of smoke when they arrived but the occupants were safely outside. Crews extinguished the fire and used a fan to clear the smoke by 12.16pm.

Crew manager Adam Powell said: "The house was 100 per cent smoke-logged when we arrived and crews did a really good job of quickly extinguishing the fire and limiting the fire damage to the kitchen.

"They also managed to find the occupants' pet cat and bring it to safety."

A man suffered smoke inhalation and crews administered oxygen before leaving him in the care of the ambulance service.

The ground and first floors suffered smoke damage.

It was a busy afternoon for the emergency service in the area. Just a couple of hours later police and ambulance crews and the Essex Air Ambulance were in action helping a motorcyclist injured in a crash at the nearby London Road and West Thurrock Way roundabout junction.