Firefighters were called to a property in Thurrock earlier today, when passers-by alerted a resident to a fire at the rear of their home.

Crews were called to Blackshots Lane, Grays, at 11:14am, after a young male was made aware of a fire at the back of his home by passers-by.

On arrival, firefighters confirmed there was a fire at the rear of the property. The fire had started outside and quickly spread to the rear door and fascias, and had started to spread into the kitchen which was heavily smoke-logged.

Firefighters helped to release a curious puppy who had managed to get stuck in a food tin this evening.

The owner brought the 6 month old French Bulldog, called Bo, into Basildon Fire Station at around 6.45pm on Friday.

Crews reassured the dog and carefully used small tools to release its head from the tin. Thankfully, Bo was unharmed.

Howard Midwood, Watch Manager at Basildon Fire Station, said: "Clearly, this wasn't a typical incident for our firefighters but when Bo and his owner arrived, we knew we'd be able to help.

Firefighters were called to a road traffic collision on Parklands, Waltham Abbey at 12:55pm on 10th January 2022.

On arrival, crews reported that two vehicles had collided and two people were trapped inside one of the vehicles.

Crews worked to release two people and a dog who were left in the care of the Ambulance Service. 

Firefighters worked to make the scene safe by 1:52pm.

Sadly, two of the people involved in the collision passed away.

Firefighters helped a 21-year-old horse onto her feet yesterday after she fell in her barn.

Beauty, a shire horse weighing approximately one tonne, had fallen in her barn and was wedged against a wall unable to stand.

When firefighters from Burnham arrived to help, Beauty was tired and shaking. A vet was on scene and had given her some pain relief while a plan was put in place to get her back on her feet.

The Animal Rescue Unit at Chelmsford Fire Station was at another incident but were able to pack up from the scene as quickly as they could to rush to Beauty’s aid.

Crews were called to Glebe Lane in Abberton at 10:52am, when a horse rider became trapped underneath her horse.

On arrival, crews confirmed that a horse had collapsed and a woman was trapped underneath.

Firefighters worked in collaboration with The Ambulance Service and Police to lift the horse and free the casualty, and the woman was left in the care of The Ambulance Service by 12:07pm.

Firefighters have issued safety advice after a tumble dryer ignited in a home in Rochford.

Crews were called after two occupants of the home were alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm.

Fortunately, the fire hadn't developed significantly by the time the alarm sounded - allowing them to get out of the property safely and crews to extinguish the fire.

The fire was out by 10.30pm. The property itself suffered minor damage, but this could easily have been a more significant incident.

Firefighters rescued two people from the scene of a road traffic collision earlier this evening, when a car left the M11 between J9 and J10, Northbound.

Crews were called to a road traffic collision which happened at around 5:01pm today.

On arrival, firefighters reported that there were two people trapped in a car which had flipped and was stuck in a ditch at the side of the road.

Crews used specialist equipment to release both of the people, and they were left in the care of the Ambulance Service by 5:51pm.

Firefighters were called to Chelmsford at 3:17pm, when a fire started in a chimney at a property in Meon Close.

On arrival, crews reported that there was a fire within the chimney itself.

Firefighters used a stirrup pump, chimney rods and water to extinguish the fire, and confirmed it was out by 3:47pm.

Fortunately, the fire was contained to the chimney and there was no further damage to the rest of the property.

Update 5:30pm

Our Fire Investigation Team, Essex Police and London Fire Brigae have now left the scene of the incident. Essex Community Safety have taken over.

The Police have issued the following statement appealing for witnesses:

We are appealing for information or witnesses to an incident in Southend.

At around 2.30am today (Sunday 16 January) we received a report of a fire at Wimpy restaurant, Marine Parade.

We attended and found the property alight and no one inside the property.

Crews were called to Courtney Road, Chadwell St Mary at 3:25am after reports of bushes on fire.

On arrival, firefighters confirmed that the fire was bigger than first thought - affecting three sheds, a series of fence panels, some rubbish and a 20 metre high conifer, tree which was 100% alight.

Crews from Orsett and Grays worked hard to extinguish the fire by 4:19am.

The garden where the fire is believed to have started is completely fire damaged, and a  car which was parked nearby, was also damaged by heat generated from the fire.