Crews extinguished a fire affecting containers at a farm in Billericay.

We were called to Blunts Wall Road today (Saturday 5 July) at 10.50am.

Crews from Basildon, Brentwood and Rayleigh Weir, and a water bowser from Corringham, to supply high volumes of water, attended.

Station Manager Howard Midwood said: "The containers were completely alight when crews arrived.

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire involving several farm buildings in Little Hallingbury.

On arrival, crews found the fire affecting a large open-sided barn, a wooden outbuilding, and a number of smaller buildings and containers.

Firefighters worked quickly to find a suitable water supply to tackle the fire. To support the effort, two Water Bowsers (large vehicles that carry significant amounts of water) were requested to assist at the scene.

Firefighters were called earlier today to a fire at a retirement village in Braintree involving a semi-detached bungalow.

The fire was well developed on arrival, but thanks to the swift and determined efforts of our crews, it was successfully contained. One bungalow has suffered devastating damage, and three neighbouring properties have been affected by heat and fire damage.

Update at 8am:

One crew from Saffron Walden is now at the scene dampening down. A fire investigation will take place today.

Update at 3.45am:

Crews continue to work hard and the fire is nearly out.

They are using an aerial ladder platform and a drone to deal with any hot spots. 

Hertfordshire firefighters have left the incident and three of our crews remain on scene.

Essex Police have set up a cordon. 

The roof of the building has collapsed.

Crews were called to a farm in Colchester this evening to deal with a fire affecting three derelict buildings.

Thanks to the firefighters quick and effective work, only one of the out buildings at the former pig farm ended up being lost.

They used breathing apparatus, the aerial ladder platform from Colchester and a water bowser during the incident and the fire was out by 7.30pm.

An investigation into the cause will take place.

Station Manager Paul Champ praised the professionalism of the crews who responded.

Firefighters saved an eight-week-old foal after it fell into a river on marshland in South Ockendon.

We were called by a member of the public who spotted the foal in Mardyke yesterday (Wednesday 2 July) at 3.26pm.

A crew from Grays attended and carried out a search, with assistance from our Urban Search and Rescue team using a drone.

The stricken foal was located at 4.56pm and a water rescue team from Chelmsford got it to safety by 6.10pm.

Firefighters rescued eight ducklings after they got trapped in a drain in Walton on the Naze today. 

We were called to Kirby Road, Walton on the Naze at 7.22am after a passer-by heard quacking coming from a drain. 

Station Manager Ryan Ainger said: "When I arrived to make the initial assessment of the incident the drain cover was wedged in. Crews from Frinton arrived and we were able to remove the drain cover and scoop out the eight ducklings. 

"We were delighted to be able to re-unite them with their mother." 

Update at 7am on Wednesday 2 July

Crews remained on scene overnight. Relief crews will be taking over this morning. 

Firefighters from Coggeshall, Braintree, Halstead and Wethersfield are currently tacking a wood pile which is fully alight in Bradwell. 

Crews are using a water bowser from Halstead to supply large amounts of water to the incident. 

Firefighters will be carrying out a control burn until the scene is safe to hand back over to the owner. 

Firefighters had a busy afternoon dealing with a fire on Foulness Island today.

Crews were called at just after 2.15pm following reports of a grass fire along the sea wall, stretching approx 100 metres.

Thanks to the efforts of our firefighters the fire was contained. Crews remain on the scene this evening dampening down and monitoring for hotspots.