Fire crews revived an unconscious cat after a cigarette started a flat blaze by setting bedding alight.
Three Essex County Fire & Rescue Service engines from Dovercourt, Clacton and Weeley were dispatched to a property in Tyler Street, Parkeston, at about 3.30am on Sunday.
The fire service was called after the flat's resident was awoken by the sound of a smoke alarm.
On arrival, firefighters confirmed the blaze was in the bedroom on the first floor of the building, with the remainder of the flat smoke-logged.
Crew members used oxygen to successfully revive a cat, who was unconscious due to smoke inhalation.
The fire was extinguished by 4.19am.
Watch Manager, Gary Clarke, said: "Thankfully, in this incident, the smoke alarm sounded and woke the resident, who called 999.
"Smoke alarms are often the first sign of a fire at home. Without a working smoke alarm, we expect this would have been a very different outcome."
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