A FIRE at an electronics firm was only discovered because the owner went in to do some extra work over the new year break.

Julian Blyth, MD of SCV Electronics, decided to go into work at the Oakwood Hill Industrial Estate in Loughton, over the holiday period to carry out a stock take when he realised one of his warehouses was on fire.

He said: “I was just working on my own on New Year's Eve when I discovered it when I went out for lunch. There were flames. I realised I shouldn't try to attempt a fire extinguisher so I left the building and called the fire service.

“I was concerned, but the sprinklers went off when I left the building and they took most of it out. Unfortunately they also water the products. There's quite a lot of work to be done. We are just assessing it.”

Mr Blyth said he believed a fault in an air conditioning device had started the fire.

He added his company, which distributes audio equipment, would soon be up and running as usual and he was in discussions with his insurance company over damage.

The blaze was attended by four fire engines, two from Loughton, and two from London.

Incident Commander Jon Payne said: “When we turned up there was smoke issuing from the mezzanine floor. It was heavily smoke logged. There was smoke coming from the roof.

“Crews went in with breathing apparatus and we extinguished the fire pretty quickly. We had a bit of difficulty locating it, but we stopped it from spreading and saved any unnecessary damage.

“It was under control and extinguished within the hour.”