Firefighters were called to a semi-detached house in Acorn Place, Langdon Hills, today around 6.14am with two crews from Basildon attending.
The occupant, a woman, suffered burns to her arms while fleeing the house with her two cats and called firefighters who extinguished the blaze by 7.14am, which started in an airing cupboard.
The cause has been recorded as accidental.
Crews provided the woman with first aid and left her in the care of the ambulance service.
Watch manager Rob Fossett said: “The occupant was woken by a loud bang and discovered a well-developed fire on the first floor.
“She grabbed her two cats, got out and called 999.
“Crews extinguished the fire, which had started in the airing cupboard, and cleared the smoke.
“Unfortunately the whole property was badly smoked-damaged.
“The incident highlights the importance of having a working smoke alarm on every level of your home. There was a working smoke alarm downstairs but the smoke alarm on the first floor did not activate, so the occupant did not get an early warning.
“Please test your smoke alarms regularly, at least once a month.
“Crews will be in the area next Friday (10 January) to provide fire safety advice, and check and fit smoke alarms.”