Update 3.30pm

Firefighters have worked throughout the morning to dampen down hotspots. 

There is no risk of smoke to the community and crews will remain to monitor the scene. 

Update 8am

Relief crews have been working at the incident throughout the night. 

Watch Manager John Palmer said: "Crews have worked hard overnight to tackle the fire hotspots in the waste and get the smoke down as much as possible. 

Firefighters were called to a flat fire in The Hyde, Basildon this afternoon. 

On arrival, two crews from Basildon reported a second floor flat was on fire and heavily smoke logged. 

The fire was beginning to spread to the flat above so crews requested the help of another four crews from Rayleigh, Leigh and Hawkwell. 

Firefighters worked hard to extinguish the fire in sections. Crews also requested an Aerial Ladder Platform from Grays to help extinguish the fire from above. 

Fire Officers also used a drone to monitor hotspots at the scene.

Crews were called to a garage in Braintree after reports of a fire. 

On arrival on-call firefighters from Braintree and Coggeshall reported the garage was about 50% alight.

Firefighters worked hard to extinguish the fire quickly, stopping it spreading to nearby properties.

The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental or deliberate both possibilities. 

Crews were called to a library last night after reports of a fire. 

Visitors of a nearby pub had first noticed flames in the library and called 999. While they waited for crews to arrive they filled large containers with water and poured it through a smashed window of the building. 

On arrival firefighters quickly to extinguished the final remains of the fire, ventilated the building and made sure it was safe.  

Watch Manager Ben Manning, Southend Fire Station, said: 

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms after a were alerted to a bedroom fire in Hadleigh.

Crews were called to a house fire in Falbro Crescent, Hadleigh at 3:22pm.

On arrival, crews reported that an upstairs bedroom was heavily smoke logged.

Firefighters extinguished the fire and believe it was caused by a cigarette that was not properly extinguished. 

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms after a family of four were alerted to a kitchen fire in the night in Southminster. 

Crews were called to a house fire in Woodside, Southminster at 2:47am. 

On arrival, crews reported the downstairs of the house was heavily smoke logged and found a fire in a kitchen. 

Firefighters believe the fire was caused by an electrical fault in a fridge freezer. 

A man was saved by his smoke alarm after falling asleep and setting fire to his mattress with a cigarette.

We were called to a ground floor flat in Vange Hill Drive, Basildon yesterday (Thursday 25 April) at 9.21pm after a neighbour heard the alarm.

Two crews from Basildon arrived and rescued a man who was lying on a mattress which was alight.

Watch Manager Darryl Worster said: "The occupant fell asleep while smoking and the cigarette set fire to his mattress; it produced a lot of smoke but luckily it did not set fire to the bedding.

Firefighters were called to a garden fire in Notley Road, Braintree at 1:17pm.

On arrival, three crews (Braintree, Chelmsford and Halstead) reported a shed fire had spread to a garage and requested a further crew from Dunmow.

Firefighters worked quickly to contain the fire and prevent it spreading. 

While at the scene, crews rescued four dogs who were in a kennel in a garden. 

Diesel, Flo, Gigi and Miley were unharmed during the incident and have been reunited with their owners.