Walton flat fire sparked by sunlight on mirror
Sunlight reflecting on a magnifying mirror caused a flat fire which left a couple homeless, a fire service investigation has confirmed.
The flat was "completely alight" with the fire spreading to the roof when crews arrived at High Street in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, on 2 May.
Essex fire service said the blaze was started by sunlight reflecting from the mirror on to a wooden window seal.
The couple were unharmed but they lost almost all of their possessions.
Assistant divisional officer Simon Dedman said: "This incident is unusual but by no means the only time a fire has started like this.
"It was a two sided mirror with one side magnified and that was the side facing the sun."