Firefighters extinguished a bedroom fire last night (23 January) which was caused by an incense stick. 

Crews were called to St Leonards Road, Southend on Sea at 5.50pm last night.

When firefighters entered the property they found the whole upper floor completely smoke damaged. Crews extinguished the fire and ventilated the property. 

Watch Manager Ben Manning said: “The resident was using an incense stick in the bedroom and thought they’d put it out. But the embers were still smouldering and caught the bedding alight, which spread to nearby furniture.

Update 8.30am 

One person has been rescued using specialist equipment. They have been left in the care of the Ambulance. 

Crews made the scene safe by 7.16am.

Firefighters currently on scene at a road traffic collision on A120 eastbound between Dunmow West and East junctions. 

It is a collision between four vehicles. 

Please be aware that there will be severe traffic delays due to rescue operations with Police and Ambulance colleagues. 

A bedroom fire in Harlow was started after a hairdryer was left on the bed while it was still hot, causing the bedding to catch alight. 

Firefighters from Harlow were called to an incident in Lower Bobbingworth Green, Ongar at 10.15pm last night. 

On arrival, crews reported that there was a fire in the bedroom of an annex which was 100% smoke logged. 

Crews wore Breathing Apparatus and used hose reels jets to extinguish the fire by 11:08pm. 

The annex had no smoke alarms. 

Firefighters helped a large 28-year-old horse back on to his feet today after he fell in his stables overnight. 

Crews were called to stables in Elm Lane, Roxwell at 7:52am and reported that the horse was laying down in the stables and unable to stand up on his own. 

Specially trained firefighters from Chelmsford Fire Station worked alongside a vet to lift the horse using our animal rescue equipment.

Once back on his feet, he trotted off happily into the field and was left in the care of his owner. 

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of working smoke alarms after a man was rescued by his neighbour in Benfleet who heard smoke alarms going off. 

Crews were called to High Road, Benfleet yesterday afternoon and reported that a house was heavily smoke logged. 

An elderly man had been rescued by his neighbour before we arrived after acting quickly when hearing smoke alarms going off. 

Update Sunday 21 January 2.30pm 

Firefighters and site staff have now extinguished the fire. An investigation into the cause of the fire found it started accidentally by a lithium ion battery put into a skip. 

A total of 52 crews attended the incident over a period of three days. 

Crews were called to a road traffic collision on the A414 between London Road and Heybridge Approach in Maldon at 3:07pm this afternoon.

On arrival, crews reported two vehicles had collided and a man was trapped in a vehicle. 

Crews worked to remove the roof from the vehicle to rescue the man and left him in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Essex Police later published the following information:

We were called to reports of a multi-vehicle collision on the A414 in Maldon at around 2.40pm today (Thursday 18 January).

Firefighters are urging people to make sure they have working smoke alarms after one potentially saved a woman’s life. 

Refuse collectors were outside a terraced property in Grange Road, Dovercourt, today at 6.42am when they heard a smoke alarm going off inside and called 999.

Shortly before crews arrived, a woman escaped from a ground floor window.

Firefighters found a well-developed fire in the lounge and the whole property was heavily smoke logged. 

Firefighters from Brentwood, Basildon and Rayleigh were called to an incident on Little Warley Hall Lane, West Hordon this afternoon. 

When crews arrived, they reported a fire in an industrial unit measuring 15 metres by 15 metres. Firefighters wearing Breathing Apparatus entered the building to extinguish the fire.

Station Manager, Jeremy Tuckwell said: “Firefighters worked hard to bring the fire under control and stop it spreading to other units. Crews are now dampening down the area and monitoring for any hotspots.”