Jaywick: Arsonists cause fire crew delays

From the archive, first published Tuesday 10th Apr 2007.

FIREFIGHTERS were delayed in evacuating residents from a care home because they were dealing with two suspected arsons.

The crews were extinguishing car fires in St Osyth and Little Clacton when they were alerted to a blaze at Corner Lodge in Jaywick.

Staff and police had to start the rescue which saw 40 residents helped out of the specialist dementia home.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued one elderly man who was taken to Colchester General Hospital by ambulance, along with a member of staff and four police officers, suffering from smoke inhalation.

Care home manager Pat Webb said she is furious that arsonists delayed the fire crews from attending the life-threatening emergency on Sunday.