A woman has died following a serious house fire in Elmdon, near Saffron Walden. Two other people were also injured and taken to hospital with burns and smoke inhalation.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a well developed fire affecting a semi-detached house. When firefighters arrived at the address, they reported the whole building was alight. Firefighters were on scene tackling the fire and trying to minimse the damage to the neighbouring property for many hours.

Firefighters were called to reports of a house fire in Basildon after neighbours saw smoke coming from the property and called 999.

When fire crews arrived at the property they found smoke pouring out of the ground floor kitchen window.

Firefighters immediately got to work putting out the fire, while protecting the neighbouring properties. Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by 8am.

Firefighters were called to a property in Basildon in the early of hours of the morning, after a portable heater caused a sofa to catch fire.

Crews were called to a property near Valence Way, Basildon at 4.33am this morning after neighbours heard a smoke alarm sounding next door. 

On arrival, firefighters found a sofa on fire in the bedroom which had been caused by a portable heater. 

Crew Manager Matt Watson said: “Even on lower settings, portable heaters left too close to flammable objects or materials can catch alight.

Firefighters were called to an incident on Rayleigh Road, Benfleet this morning. 

Crews have been working to pump water out of a flooded basement. 

Group Manager Mark Eaglestone said: "We've got a number of crews dealing with an incident on Rayleigh Road in Benfleet this morning. Please rest assured that there is no risk to the community." 

Update Saturday 25 January 2pm 

The fire has been extinguished. One crew is on scene monitoring and dampening down any hotspots. 

Update 8.30pm 

Station Manager Scott Fretton said: "The building is completely alight and firefighters are making steady progress, but expect to be here overnight. There is still a lot of low level smoke in the area so if you live nearby please keep your windows and doors shut." 

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms after a caravan fire this afternoon.

Crews were called to Goatsmoore Lane, Ingatestone to a caravan on fire at 1.32pm today.

Station Manager John Warmann said: "When crews arrived they could see black smoke in all the windows, the fire had been smouldering for quite a while and has left the caravan completely uninhabitable.