Two homes were devastated by fire overnight.
The drama unfolded in Catley Cross, near Twinstead in Essex, at 1.50am today.
Four fire engines were on the scene of the blaze at the height of the incident, which affected two semi-detached homes.
There were no reports of any injuries sustained and no-one was evacuated.
The blaze was extinguished by 2.50am and the last fire crew left the scene at around 7.10am.
It is understood the blaze started in one property and spread to the adjoining one.
A Essex County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman described the house as being “completely destroyed”.
“There is just a shell of a house now,” he said. “The walls are still standing by the roof and insides have been completely destroyed.”
He added: “Firefighters returned to the property at 9am to check the property. They remain on scene.”
A joint investigation in to the incident will be launched today by Essex County Fire and Rescue and Essex Police.
It is not known at this stage if it is being treated as suspicious.
In a brief statement, the Essex Police spokesman added: “Police are dealing with a fire reported last night.”
Officers closed the road while firefighters tackled the blaze. It has now reopened.
A Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “Essex fire control requested assistance from our Sudbury appliances this morning in dealing with two semi-detached houses on fire.
“Crews assisted working alongside Essex fire appliances. They were back at their station at around 3.40am.”
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