PHOTO - Large stack of baled straw alight

Firefighters were called to a fire involving a large pile of baled straw this evening (Monday 16 August).

When fire crews arrived they reported that the stack of straw, which measured approximately 400 tonnes, was alight and had collapsed into the road (B1051). 100m of hedgerow was also alight.

Firefighters quickly tackled the hedgerow fire, and then monitoring the straw fire to ensure it didnt spread.

The straw fire will be monitored throughout the night into tomorrow and allowed to burn down.

Container fire

Firefighters were called to a container fire in Harlow earlier today.

On arrival, crews reported that two containers were 100% alight.

Due to the limited water supply, the two crews who attended initially from Harlow and Waltham Abbey requested two more crews from Loughton and Epping on arrival.

Crews worked to extinguish the fire in sections by 7pm.

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

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

what3words helps firefighters rescue pony from water

Firefighters used what3words to find a pony that was in difficulty in the water in Ulting earlier today.

A member of the public had been walking nearby when they came across the pony and its owner struggling to get the pony out of the water.

The caller had used what3words to direct our control room to the incident.

hears.brings.firepower were the three words that directed our crews to the pony.

Two animal rescue swimmers waded into the water and used a head harness and long line to help the pony swim back to the edge where it was left in the care of a vet.

Deliberate fire in high rise building

Firefighters were called to a deliberate fire in a bin chute at a block of flats in Southend earlier today.

Crews were called to Whittingham Avenue in Southend this afternoon to reports of a fire in an 11 floor block of flats.

On arrival, crews reported that a fire in a bin chute was affecting floors 5 to 10 and worked to extinguish the fire by 3:07pm.

Station Manager Scott Meetings said: “Crews acted quickly to contain and extinguish this fire and we implemented full high rise procedures as a precautionary measure.”

Road traffic collision - Woman rescued

Firefighters were called to a road traffic collision on Mount Road in Theyon Garnon early this morning.

On arrival, crews reported that a car left the roadway on the wet roads and had collided with a tree leaving a woman trapped.

Crews worked to rescue the woman by 3:57am and she was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Epping Fire Station is recruiting on-call firefighters. If you live or work within 5 minutes of Epping Fire Station, you could be an on-call firefighter.

Shed fire

Firefighters were called to a large shed fire this morning that had spread to fence panels and surrounding trees.

On arrival, crews reported that there was a large fire in a shed that was beginning to affect the shed next door as well as a number of fence panels and trees.

Crews extinguished the fire by 7am and believe it was caused accidentally.

Watch Manager Rob Fossett from Basildon Fire said: “This was the first fire for our apprentice firefighter Ciaran West and with his aggressive firefighting, he was able to put the fire out quickly before it spread further.”

Road traffic collision on M25

Crews were called to the scene of a serious road traffic collision on the M25 early this evening. 

On arrival firefighters reported that a lorry, a minibus and a car were involved in a collision, anti-clockwise between junctions 27 and 26, near Waltham Abbey.

Incident Commander Richie Green said:

"Our crews worked extremely hard in a difficult and dynamic situation. We thank the public for their patience while we worked with other emergency services to make the scene safe." 

Shed fire

Firefighters were called to a shed fire in Leigh this afternoon.

On arrival, crews reported that a shed - measuring approximately 5 metres by 3 metres - was 100% alight.

Crews worked to prevent the fire spreading to a neighbouring building and extinguished the fire by 2:24pm. The cause of the fire was accidental.

Road traffic collision: person trapped

Firefighters assisted paramedics at the scene of a road traffic collision in Chigwell.

A crew from Loughton, assisted by a London Fire Brigade crew from Woodford, were called to New Forest Lane today at 8.04pm and found a person trapped in a car.

They used specialist cutting equipment to free the casualty and left them in the care of the Ambulance Service at 8.48pm.