Update: Tuesday 24 September, 3pm  

A fire investigation has been carried out and the cause has been recorded as accidental.

Update: Friday 20 September, 3.45pm

Almost a week after a fire broke out at the recycling centre fire in Hovefields Avenue, Basildon, fire officers have confirmed the fire is now out. 

Area Manager Craig McLellan said: “This was a drawn out incident that I’m pleased to say is now coming to an end. 

Firefighters rescued a small dog called Bella after she became trapped in thick undergrowth while walking in Runwell earlier today.

Crews were called to Downham Road, Runwell at 12:25pm where Bella was trapped in thick bushes after following her nose on her walk. 

Firefighters from Basildon used a ladder to cut away at the bushes as well as crawling into the undergrowth to safely rescue Bella. 

Firefighters were called to a fire at a scrap metal yard in the Port of Tilbury at 6:42pm. 

Six crews worked to use an Aerial Ladder Platform to extinguish a fire affecting approximately 100 metres x 30 metres of scrap metal. 

Firefighters worked alongside site staff to break up the material using diggers to extinguish the fire in sections. 

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 9pm. 

An investigation will be carried out tomorrow to determine the cause of the fire. 

Firefighters were called to a house fire in Pendle Drive, Basildon at 12:25pm after neighbours reported seeing flames and smoke inside the house and hearing smoke alarms going off.

On arrival, three crews reported there was a fire in a mid terraced house on the ground floor. 

Crews worked to extinguish the fire and ventilate the property.

The fire has left the house uninhabitable due to heavy fire and smoke damage. 

Firefighters rescued a man and a dog following a road traffic collision in Epping this morning. 

Crews were called to a road traffic collision on Chambers Manor Farm Lane, Epping at 7:20am. 

On arrival, crews reported a van had left the road and was on its side with a man and dog trapped inside. 

Crews worked to create a platform on either side of the van to safely rescue the man alongside paramedics. 

Specially trained animal rescue firefighters from Chelmsford worked to calm the dog down and safely rescue it. 

Firefighters rescued Clive the horse yesterday after he fell into water in Barling Magna.

Crews were called to a field near Mucking Hall Road, Barling Magna at midday yesterday. 

Due to the remote area, control officers worked out the best access for firefighters to access the field. 

On arrival, crews reported Clive was stuck in mud in the water and requested specialist animal rescue trained firefighters from Chelmsford and our water rescue trained firefighters from Urban Search and Rescue.

Firefighters have praised a family of four who acted quickly to escape during a house fire in Basildon this morning. 

Crews were called to a house fire in Paxfords, Laindon at 6:32am. 

On arrival, three crews reported the first floor of the house was on fire and heavily smoke logged. 

Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire and an investigation into the cause found it had started accidentally in a bedroom upstairs.

The family had all safely escaped the fire before crews arrived. 

Firefighters from Braintree and Halstead rescued a dog from a kitchen fire in Braintree this evening. 

Crews were called to a kitchen fire in Stanstrete Field, Braintree at 6.36pm after neighbours called us when they heard smoke alarms going off.

On arrival, crews could see the fire and smoke through the kitchen window. They entered the property quickly and found Waffle, a cockapoo trapped in the house. 

Crews rescued Waffle and used the SmokeyPaws pet oxygen masks as it was suffering with smoke inhalation.