UPDATED 9.00 AM

The fire was fully extinguished by 12.45am. 

Crews returned this morning to check the area and monitor for any hotspots. 

We believe the fire was started deliberately. 

UPDATED 11.15PM

Crews are continuing to deal with the incident in Sible Hedingham.

Station Manager Pete Donovan said: "Crews worked extremely hard to get this fire under control as quickly as they did.

"The roof collapsed, which has made fully extinguishing the fire even more difficult.

Firefighters were called to a grass fire in Walton-on-the-Naze. 

On arrival, crews reported that an area of grass and gorse was on fire. 

Crews worked to prevent the fire spreading further across the field. 

Crew Manager Adriaan Philipsen from Frinton Fire Station said: “In this hot and dry weather, it only takes an ember to start a fire so we’d urge the public to be extra cautious this summer to properly stub out cigarettes and to allow embers from bonfires and BBQs to fully cool. You can use water to be sure embers are fully cooled.”

Firefighters were called to a garden fire in Wesley Avenue, Colchester. 

On arrival, crews reported that a garden fire was affecting a shed and starting to spread to the outside of a house. 

Crews worked to extinguish the fire and prevent it spreading to the house. 

Firefighters believe the fire was caused by a discarded cigarette.

Firefighters were called to a fire affecting a thatched roof cottage in Stortford Road, Little Canfield.

On arrival, crews reported that a fence was on fire and was starting to spread to the house. 

Crews worked quickly to extinguish the fire and prevent it spreading to the thatched roof. 

Watch Manager Paul Curtis from Saffron Walden Fire Station said: “We believe this fire could have been caused by a discarded cigarette and with everything being so hot and dry at the moment, it caught the fence alight. 

Crews have issued safety advice after a tumble dryer caused a house fire in Maldon.

We were called to a three-storey end terrace in Cross Road yesterday at 4.59pm and two crews from Maldon attended.

Firefighters found a well-developed fire in a kitchen.

Crew Manager Nick Trice said: "The occupant saw smoke coming from the tumble dryer so he stopped it, took out the towels, which were alight, threw them outside and put water on them.

Firefighters rescued 11 ducklings after they got trapped in a drain in Braintree.

We were called to Bocking End today at 9.03am after a member of the public saw the mother duck in a flap.

A crew from Braintree were on the scene "quackly".

Crew Manager Paul Mayes said: "We were able to remove the storm drain cover and the ducklings were 2ft or 3ft down.

"We scooped out nine of the ducklings with a bucket but a couple of them went down a separate pipe.

Seven crews have been working to extinguish a roof fire in a pub in Frinton Road, Holland-on-Sea after it was struck by lightning this morning.

Firefighters were called to Frinton Road, Holland-on-Sea ay 9:47am after residents heard the lightning strike the roof and acted quickly to get out, stay out and dial 999. 

On arrival, crews reported that the roof of a large pub was 50% alight. 

Crews tackled the fire from inside with firefighters wearing Breathing Apparatus and from above using an Aerial Ladder Platform. 

Firefighters were called to a house fire in Waarem Avenue, Canvey Island at 8:39am. 

On arrival, crews reported that a roof was on fire after being struck by lightning. 

The neighbours heard the loud bang of the lightning striking the roof and acted quickly to dial 999.

Firefighters worked to prevent the fire spreading throughout the rest of the property. 

The roof was destroyed in the fire and has left the home uninhabitable. 

Crews extinguished a roof fire after a bungalow in Corringham was struck by lightning.

We were called to York Avenue today at 3.44am and crews from Corringham, Orsett, Basildon and Grays attended.

They found smoke billowing from the roof, which was completely alight.

Watch Manager Geoff Wheal said: "The couple were woken by a massive bang and then heard neighbours knocking on their door.

"Thanks to the neighbours, the couple along with their six dogs and cat got out safely.

Crews have issued safety advice after embers from a fire pit set a house alight.

We were called to Hilltop, Loughton today at 6.46am and crews from Loughton and Waltham Abbey attended.

A man in his forties suffered smoke inhalation and burns after tackling the fire.

Watch Manager Glenn Jackson said: "The cause was found to be smouldering embers, which had been used in a fire pit in the garden the night before.

"The fire pit had been left next to garden furniture and set it alight. The fire then spread to a fence, wood pile and part of the house.