Firefighters have highlighted the importance of having working smoke alarms after smoke alarms alerted a man to a fire in his kitchen earlier today.

Crews were called to a kitchen fire in a ground floor flat in Brentwood and on arrival found the flat heavily smoke logged. 

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 8pm and believe it started accidentally when cooking on the hob ignited. 

A man has been rendered homeless due to the smoke damage in his home and was given oxygen therapy at the scene by firefighters. 

Witham firefighters rescued two people from their vehicle following a road traffic collision this morning. 

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

Firefighters worked to rescue the two casualties by 6:25am and they were left in the care of the Ambulance Service. 

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Firefighters were called to a road traffic collision on the A12 at Witham earlier today. 

On arrival, crews reported that two vehicles had collided and one person was trapped inside their vehicle. 

Crews rescued the person by 5:56pm and they were left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

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Firefighters rescued a woman and two children following a road traffic collision on the A130 today.

Crews from Rayleigh Weir, Hawkwell and Leigh attended the southbound carriageway, close to the junction with the A127, at 12.24pm.

A woman and two children were trapped in a car on its roof in a ditch. They were all conscious and breathing.

Firefighters used specialist cutting equipment to release the casualties by 1.52pm and left them in the care of the Ambulance Service.

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Firefighters rescued a horse from a river in Coggeshall this afternoon after it had become stuck.

The mare, which is 24 years old, had been stuck in water that was up to its tail for several hours when firefighters were called to assist.

Firefighters led the animal upstream and created a safe pathway out of the water, using specialist equipment including an Animal Rescue Unit.

The horse was back onto dry land by 5.38pm. Fortunately, the animal was unharmed and was left in the care of a vet.

On-call firefighters from Wethersfield, Braintree and Witham were called to an outbuilding fire in Bardfield earlier today. 

On arrival, crews reported that the roof of an outbuilding - measuring approximately 10 metres by 8 metres - was on fire. 

Crews worked together to shuttle water as the water pressure in the area was low and extinguished the fire by 11:22am. 

Firefighters remained on scene to strip the roof back to ensure all hotspots were cooled. 

The cause of the fire was accidental due to an electrical fault.

Firefighters were called to a fire in a derelict garage this afternoon. 

On arrival, crews reported that a derelict garage was on fire and worked to extinguish it by 4:08pm. 

The garage has been destroyed and the cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental or deliberate, both possibilities. 

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

We're recruiting on-call firefighters at Brentwood, Epping and Waltham Abbey Fire Stations.

Firefighters were called to reports of smoke issuing from a flat in Southend this morning (Tuesday 20 July).

When fire crews arrived they reported that smoke was seen issuing from a flat on the seventh floor and immediately gained access to find the cause of the smoke.

When fire crews gained access to the flat to find that a number of cans of "bug fogger" had been set off which had set the smoke alarms off.

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Firefighters assisted at the scene of a road traffic collision in Chelmsford this afternoon.

Crews reported that three vehicles were involved in the incident and a woman and a man were trapped.

Firefighters administered first aid and worked with paramedics to free the casualties by 3.32pm, leaving them in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire in a building in Dovercourt this morning.

Crews reported on arrival that the building, which measures around 7 metres by 5 metres, was around 50% alight.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by 8.20am.

The building is used as an internal play area, which has been completely destroyed. Due to the quick response of firefighters, no other buildings or property have been affected.

A fire investigation to establish the cause of the fire found it was caused accidentally or deliberately, both possibilities.