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  • Join Essex Fire
  • Request a home safety visit
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Events and Open Days

Events and Open Days

Find out more
Book a Home Safety Visit

Book a Home Safety Visit

Keeping your home safe from fire is an important part of living safe and well. That’s why we offer free Home Safety Visits to all residents across Essex.

Find out more
Our strategies, plans and reports

Our strategies, plans and reports

On this page you'll find:

  • Our vision
  • Our mission
  • Our values
  • Our Fire and Rescue Plan
  • Our Annual Reports
  • Strategic Assessment of Risk
  • Community Risk Management…
Find out more

We're recruiting wholetime firefighters

We're looking for people who are fit, focused and ready to take on a new challenge.

We're recruiting two squads, with successful candidates starting either in November 2025 or March 2026. With opportunities for people to join squads later in 2026 too.

Applications close 5 June. 

Apply here

Welcome to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

We’re here for everyone who lives in, works in, or travels through Essex - keeping 1.88 million residents safe across 1,400 square miles of towns, cities, countryside and coastline.

From our 50 fire stations, our crews and staff work every day to prevent emergencies, protect what matters most, and be there when you need us - all while keeping Essex safer together.

How we respond to keep Essex safe

Book your home safety visit

If you live in Essex you can call 0300 303 0088 or book online for a free home safety visit.

We will provide and fit smoke alarms completely free of charge, provide personalised home safety advice and signpost you to additional advice and support for your health and wellbeing.

 

Book now
 
Latest incidents - we're there when you need us
We respond to a wide range of emergencies, including fires, road traffic collisions, specialist rescues, maritime incidents, flooding and incidents relating to hazardous materials. Here you’ll find details of some of the incidents we attend.

We don’t publish every incident, just those where there’s an important safety message, a need to warn or inform the public or an example of something a little different. We also work closely with local media to share relevant information with our communities.
View all Incidents

Fire

Fire in outbuilding spreads to substation

Jubilee Ave, Clacton-on-Sea
31 May 4.53pm
view

Fire

Crews respond to deliberate fire in town house

St Andrews Avenue, Colchester
31 May 10.41am
view

Fire

Field fire

Mersea Road, Colchester
30 May 3.21pm
view

Fire

Essex crews support Suffolk at large thatched roof fire

Church Road, Boxted
30 May 3.18pm
view

Fire

Roof fire in four storey block of flats

Imperial Avenue, Westcliff on Sea
27 May 12.12pm
view

Fire

Building fire - industrial unit

River Way, Harlow
22 May 8.57am
view

Fire

Fire in the garden spreads to house

Raphael Avenue, Tilbury
19 May 3.40pm
view

Fire

Crews tackle fire at electricity substation

High Street, Wickford
18 May 1.33pm
view

Fire

Bonfire causes fire at storage unit

Northwich Road, Canvey
16 May 6.52pm
view

Fire

Industrial unit fire

A127 Southend Arterial Road, North Benfleet
15 May 10.14am
view
 
Making Essex safer together

Incident statistics for April 2025

 
1,502
Incidents attended
 
1,121
Home Fire Safety Checks
 
77
Very high/high risk inspections and audits
 
Latest news

Latest news

Press release

Make a plan: Fire service urges families to practice escape routes at home

little toy wooden house in foreground and family in background
Find out more

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) is encouraging families across Essex to take simple but life-saving steps to prepare their children for what to do if a fire breaks out at home.

Read more
Press release

Helping Essex’s most vulnerable: Joint Fire and Ambulance support saves lives at home

Community Wellbeing Officers
Find out more

A groundbreaking initiative between Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) and the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) is making a real difference to the lives of some of Essex’s most vulnerable residents, b

Read more
Press release

Protect the people you care about: let us know who might need help to escape

Jacob, control operator, sitting at desk in Control
Find out more

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) is urging families and carers to book a free Home Safety Visit for anyone who may find it difficult to escape their home in the event of a fire.

Read more
Press release

The rise of lithium-ion battery risks in businesses: fire safety strategies every business needs

Lithium-ion battery incident
Find out more

Rechargeable technology has transformed how we work. From e-bikes and power tools to laptops and large-scale energy storage systems, lithium-ion batteries are now central to modern business operations.

Read more
Press release

Six new fire engines ready to help make Essex safer together

PFCC Roger Hirst and CFO Rick Hylton new fire engines
Find out more

Six new fire engines will soon be ready to respond in Essex helping to keep people safer.

Read more
Press release

Fire service reassures Harlow high-rise residents following Redstone House closure 

Area Manager Dave Bond
Find out more

Following the closure of Redstone House in Harlow due to serious fire safety concerns, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) is stepping up its presence in the area to offer support and reassurance to residents living in other high-rise buildings across the town. 

Read more
Press release

Redstone House Harlow

Redstone House Harlow
Find out more

Residents in Harlow are being supported after Essex County Fire and Rescue Service took the difficult decision to serve a prohibition notice on Redstone House in Harlow town centre following significant fire safety concerns. 

Read more
Press release

Firefighters reflect on VE Day: “We must keep their memory alive”

Crew Manager Rob Cork
Find out more

Essex firefighters with military backgrounds are paying tribute this VE Day by sharing powerful personal stories and reflections, reminding us why it’s so important to keep honouring those who served.

Read more
Press release

Southend Fire Station receives life-saving bleed prevention kit

Left to right - Roger Hirst, Daniel Johnson, Julie Taylor, Anna Firth, Karl Edwards and Rick Williams
Find out more

Southend Fire Station will now be equipped with a public access bleed prevention kit that will give injured people better emergency care.  ​​​​

Read more
Press release

Essex is recruiting wholetime firefighters

Firefighter Dominic Mackley
Find out more

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) has launched its recruitment drive for wholetime firefighters, offering people the opportunity

Read more
 
Firefighters training
Become a wholetime firefighter
We're recruiting wholetime firefighters until 5 June.
Apply now
 
Quick links
Important pages on our website that you may be interested in.
 
Events
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Our open days and events

A drill yard at a fire station, full of people for an event, a fire engine and a large fire from a demonstration
Our upcoming events
All our planned open days and events across the county - we're always adding to this page.
 
Safety advice
Read more

Water Safety

moody sky over Chalkwell Beach
Read about Water Safety
Most people don't think of the fire service when it comes to water rescues, but it's an important part of our work.
 
Museum
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The Essex Fire Museum

A museum volunteer gives a talk to some school children. They are trying on old fire helmets.
Visit the Museum
The Essex Fire Museum gives visitors the opportunity to take a fascinating look at the history of the fire service here in Essex.
 
Education
Read more

Education

Education Officer standing by a projector in front of primary school children in blue uniform. One boy has raised his hand
Visit the Education Hub
Our team of Education Officers deliver key safety messages to children in Key Stages two, three and four, using interactive school programmes.
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Our strategies, plans and reports

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Essex County Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters

Kelvedon Park
Rivenhall
Witham
Essex
CM8 3HB

Emergencies: 999

HQ Tel: 01376 576000 HQ

Tel: 0300 3035555

Fax: 01376 570466

Do not report emergencies to our HQ. To report an emergency please call 999.

Request a fire report or make a Freedom of Information request here

Make compliments and complaints here

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