Persistent rain meant it was a busy night for our Control Room, firefighters and officers with more than 70 incidents between yesterday (Tuesday 21 May) at 5pm and today (Wednesday 22 May) at 9am.

Incidents we attended included:

Crews extinguished a fire affecting a swimming pool in Wrabness.

We were initially called to a report of a fire in the open in Primrose Lane today at 12.09am.

A crew from Dovercourt were first on the scene, discovered a building was alight and requested further support due to a poor water supply in the area.

Watch Manager Luke Beardmore said: "Crews found part of the roof and building alight and worked really hard to stop it from spreading.

We were called to reports of a fire in Link Road, Canvey today at 12.24pm.

The first crew, which arrived in 4 ½ minutes, began tackling the fire, on the first floor, and requested further crews due to the severity of the fire.

Crews stopped a fire in a terraced house in Harwich from spreading to the adjoining properties.

We were called to Alexandra Street today (18 May) at 1.46am after a member of the public saw smoke coming from a mid-terrace house.

Crews from Dovercourt, Manningtree and Colchester extinguished the fire by 3.18am and used a fan to clear the smoke.

Station Manager Quentin Sage: "Crews did a brilliant job of stopping the fire spreading to the houses either side. If it wasn't for their swift actions, the fire would have reached the loft and affected two more properties.

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: