Crews have issued safety advice after an unattended tea light caused a house fire.

Firefighters were called to a property in Raphael Drive, Chelmsford yesterday (Thursday 1 April) at 6.53pm.

The two-storey house was unoccupied but thankfully a neighbour spotted the fire and called 999.

Watch Manager Gavin Ellis said: "The lounge was 50% alight and the rest of the house had filled with smoke when we arrived, but crews did a really good job of limiting the damage.

Firefighters rescued a women from a fast flowing river in Loughton yesterday (Monday 8 March).

Crew Manager Glenn Jackson, Loughton Fire Station, said:

"The woman was walking her dog along the river when the dog jumped in the water. The woman got in the water to try and reach her dog but got into trouble and couldn't reach the dog or get herself out again.

Firefighters were called to a bin lorry fire in Clarence Road, Rayleigh just before 10am this morning.

On arrival, crews reported that a bin lorry containing mixed recycling was heavily smoke logged and worked to remove the recycling to extinguish the fire by 10:30am.

Firefighters believe the fire was caused by discarded batteries.

Watch Manager Wayne Davey from Rayleigh Fire Station said ”Crews worked quickly to extinguish the fire before it engulfed the appliance which would have caused a significant amount of costly damage both to the appliance and the road."

Crews were called by the Ambulance Service after reports of a road traffic collision between two vehicles. 

On arrival, firefighters reported that one female was trapped in her car and worked to remove the vehicle's roof and release her. 

The casualty was left in the care of the Ambulance Service at 12.15pm.

We're recruiting wholetime firefighters.

A man and his dog were rescued from a bungalow fire in Clacton last night (Saturday 13 March).

Crews were called to the property in Southwold Way, Clacton, and told there may be someone trapped inside. 

On arrival, firefighters quickly began searching inside the property, although were then told by neighbours that the resident, an elderly man, and his dog, had been rescued by a neighbour soon after the 999 call. 

Firefighters were called to a fire in a derelict building in Canvey this afternoon (Tuesday 16 March).

When fire crews arrived they reported that the building, which measured approximately 20m x 30m, was smoking heavily from the roof space.

Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform (which is an extendable platform that enables firefighters to pour water on the fire from above) to extinguish the fire by 5:37pm.

An investigation into the cause of the fire was carried out and recorded as undetermined.

Crews were called to a derelict retail store this afternoon, following reports of a fire. 

On arrival, firefighters reported that the building, which measures around 100m x 30m, was 50% smoke logged and the fire had broken through the roof. 

At 6.30pm Station Manager Scott Meekings said:

"Crews have worked hard to contain the fire and bring it under control. They will now continue searching the building for any further hotspots.

"We expect crews to be on scene for some time until we can be certain the area is completely cooled."

Crews were called to a fire in a kitchen in a first-floor flat. 

On arrival firefighters reported that the kitchen was completely alight and worked to extinguish the fire by 6.33pm.

Station Manager Craig McLellan, Basildon Fire Station, said:

"Firefighters worked really well to contain the fire to the flat and stop it spreading to other properties or communal areas.

"The fire started after a pan of oil caught alight and the resident then tried to extinguish it with water. 

Crews were called to a fire in a derelict storage building at the back of a derelict pub. 

On arrival firefighters reported that the building, which measures around 5m x 15m, was completely alight. 

At 9pm the Incident Commander, Watch Manager Gary Bannister, Grays Fire Station, said:

"Crews worked really hard to protect surrounding buildings and stop the fire spreading.

"The fire is now out and we'll hand the site over to the care of the Local Authority."

The building has been completely destroyed.

Crews were called to signs of smoke in Keith Way, Southend, in the early hours of this morning. 

On arrival firefighters reported that there were signs of fire inside a semi-detached house, and quickly worked to gain access through the front and back doors.

Once inside, firefighters reported that it was clear a fire had been burning inside the house for some time and that it was not safe to tackle the fire from the inside. 

Sadly a man was found deceased inside the house.