Firefighters are urging smokers to discard of smoking materials properly after a discarded cigarette caused a fire in a sheltered accommodation this morning. 

Crews from Clacton and Weeley were called to an automatic fire alarm near Regency Lodge, Elmden Court, Clacton.

On arrival smoke could be seen coming out of the windows on the second floor. 

Firefighters rescued a dog called 'Scruff' after she got trapped under a concrete ledge this afternoon. 

Crews were called to Queen Street in Sible Hedingham at 5.57pm to reports that a curious canine had got trapped under a concrete ledge. 

Firefighters worked to free the dog by 6.48pm. 

Group Manager Andy Message said: "Firefighters did a great job to free Scruff quickly. She was returned safely to her owners." 

Firefighters are praising residents for acting quickly when discovering a fire in their loft in Billericay yesterday. 

Crews were called to reports of smoke coming from a roof of a house in Cavell Road, Billericay at 3:27pm. 

On arrival, crews reported there was a fire in the loft and worked to prevent it spreading further into the house and to next door.

The fire was caused by an electrical fault.

Firefighters were called to a kitchen fire in Red Lion Crescent, Harlow at 11:48am. 

On arrival, three crews reported a house was heavily smoke logged and smoke had started to spread to neighbouring properties through the loft. 

Crews worked to extinguish a fire in the kitchen while ventilating neighbouring properties. 

The kitchen has been left heavily fire and smoke damaged. 

Crews believe an electrical fault in an air fryer caused the fire. 

Firefighters were called to a fire in a restaurant in Colchester last night (Friday 18 October).

Four crews were called to Trinity Street, Colchester at 9:16pm to reports of a kitchen fire. 

All restaurant staff and customers had evacuated before our arrival and crews praised them for their quick actions.

The fire started when oil in a deep fat fryer caught alight in the kitchen, 

Crews worked quickly to get the fire under control and were able to prevent it spreading further throughout the restaurant.