Crews extinguished a fire at a disused building in Pitsea.

We were called to reports of a fire in a two-storey building in Rectory Road today at 12.15am.

Crews from Basildon (two), Corringham and Rayleigh Weir attended, along with an Aerial Ladder Platform from Southend.

Station Manager Russ Freeman said: "Crews were faced with a fire in the roof of a disused building measuring 30 metres by 10 metres.

"Firefighters wearing Breathing Apparatus initially entered the building and did a brilliant job of stopping the fire from spreading.

A flat has been left uninhabitable after cooking was left unattended and caught alight. 

Firefighters were called to reports of smoke coming out of a flat near Western Esplanade, Canvey at 1.35pm this afternoon. 

When crews arrived they found a fire in the kitchen. 

The block of flats was evacuated – and a man and his dog were rescued through a first floor window and down a ladder. 

Firefighters were called to a fire in Rochford last night after embers from an incinerator had caught a shed alight. 

Crews were called to Oxford Road, Rochford at 6:11pm and on arrival reported a shed was 100% alight. 

Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire and believe it was caused by hot embers from an incinerator that had caught in the wind.

The shed, a tree and several fence panels were destroyed in the fire. 

Crews have issued safety advice after a fire at a bungalow in Wickford today.

We were called to Fourth Avenue at 10.15am and crews from Basildon (two) and Southend attended.

They found smoke coming from a multi plug extension socket in the kitchen.

Crew Manager Kris Mortimer said: "The extension socket had been overloaded with too many appliances plugged into it and it caught fire.

"Thankfully an occupant saw the smoke and called 999 and the fire was actually out when we arrived.

Update 8:30am Thursday, 29 February

Two crews remained at the scene until 10:45pm last night monitoring hotspots. A crew visited the scene this morning at 8am to confirm the scene is fully cooled and we're now leaving this incident in the care of the owner.

Update 9:45pm 

Three crews have been working throughout the evening with a partner agency to pull material outside of the structure to extinguish the fire. 

Firefighters have been working to dismantle the building to fully extinguish hotspots. 

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of working smoke alarms after attending a flat fire where there were no working smoke alarms.

Crews were called to a flat fire in Nayland Road, Colchester at 10:43pm last night.

On arrival, firefighters reported there was a fire in a kitchen of a first floor flat. 

Firefighters extinguished the fire and believe it was caused by a tumble dryer. 

The kitchen was badly fire damaged and the flat was heavily smoke logged leaving it uninhabitable. 

Update 8:30am 

Station Manager Mark Elliot said: "Crews have done a great job this morning at working quickly and efficiently to extinguish the fire and clear the smoke in the adjacent unit. I'd also like to say a big thank you to our Control Room team that directed us to the right incident quickly as the initial reports were to a different location.

"A fire investigation has been completed and the cause has been found as accidental." 

Six crews have worked to extinguish a workshop fire in Thurrock this evening. 

When crews arrived they reported that the workshop, which measured approximately 15m x 10m, was completely alight.

Firefighters worked hard to tackle the fire and stop it spreading. A number of vehicles have been destroyed by the fire. 

Firefighters will remain on scene to dampen down hotspots. 

The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental.