Update 3pm:

An investigation into the cause of the fire is on-going.

Update 7:30am

Crews worked throughout the night to monitor hotspots within the roof and first floor and left the scene at 7:09am.

An investigation into the cause of the fire will take place today.

Update 1am:

Crews have almost extinguished the fire and the incident has been scaled down to two fire crews and an Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP). Firefighters will remain at the scene to monitor hotspots. 

Wickford firefighters helped to clear a flooded road after a water main burst in Bicknacre last night.

The crew had been making their way back to Wickford Fire Station after supporting colleagues at another incident when they spotted the water on the road.

A water main had burst and was beginning to affect two properties.

Firefighters worked to divert the water away from the houses and left the scene in the care of the water board at 9:25pm.

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UPDATED TODAY 6PM

Crews worked to make the scene safe by 5:19pm and left the incident in the care of police and highways colleagues.

UPDATED TODAY 3.35PM

Two crews are at the scene of a road traffic collision at the A12/A130 Howe Green interchange.

A lorry containing scaffolding poles is on its side and is blocking part of the carriageway.

Traffic is able to move past the scene safely but please continue to avoid the area if you can.

Over the weekend, on-call firefighters from Great Dunmow helped to save more than 30 fish in a local pond.

The crew was called by the Environment Agency to aerate a pond in Star Lane, Great Dunmow at 12pm on Saturday after 35 fish had been killed in the water due to low dissolved oxygen levels.

Crews used main jets to aerate the pond and left the scene in the care of the Environment Agency.

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Crews were called to a block of flats after reports of a fire on the ground floor.

On arrival firefighters confirmed the fire was contained to one ground floor flat, which they safely evacuated, and issued a message for all other flats to stay put in their properties. 

Crews confirmed they had extinguished the fire by 2am.

Group Manager Mark Eaglestone said:

"Our crews acted quickly to control the fire while we implemented the building's stay put policy.

Fire crews have stressed the importance of working smoke alarms after a family was woken by theirs during the early hours to discover a fire in their home. 

Firefighters were called to the semi-detached house in Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, after the family of four and their dog escaped the property and called 999. 

On arrival, firefighters reported that there was a well-developed fire in the lounge and kitchen area with heavy smoke logging throughout the property. 

Watch Manager Gavin Ellis said:

Crews were called to a road traffic collision involving two vehicles this morning 

On arrival, firefighters reported that one man was trapped in his car and used cutting equipment to release him by 6.58am. 

The casualty was left in the care of the Ambulance Service. 

Firefighters were called to a shed fire caused by hot embers in Colchester earlier today.

On arrival, crews reported that a shed measuring 5 metres by 4 metres was on fire and worked to extinguish it by 1:20pm.

Firefighters rescued a man who was trapped inside a digger that had fallen in a pit earlier today.

Crews were called to Progress Road in Southend to reports that a digger had slipped into a hole leaving a man trapped inside the digger.

Firefighters worked with colleagues in the Ambulance Service to rescue the man by 4:50pm. He was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

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

On arrival, crews confirmed that one female was trapped following the incident, which involved one other vehicle.

Firefighters managed to release the casualty by 3.19pm, before leaving her in the care of the Ambulance Service.