Firefighters are asking residents to triple check your hob is clear and turned off at the wall before leaving the house following a kitchen fire in Great Leighs today. 

Two crews from Chelmsford were called to Daisleys Lane, Great Leighs at 9:45am when a neighbour could hear smoke alarms going off and saw smoke in the kitchen. 

On arrival, crews reported the kitchen was heavily smoke logged and worked to extinguish a small fire on the hob. 

Firefighters rescued a donkey after it got trapped in mud.

We were called to a field in Stock yesterday at 4.30pm and crews from Chelmsford, including the Animal Rescue Unit and off-road vehicle, attended.

Archie the donkey had sunk in a waterlogged area of his paddock and the mud was up to his belly.

Watch Manager Andy Edwards said: "He couldn't move at all because it was thick clay.

Crews have issued safety advice after a fire was caused by sunlight reflecting off a glass ornament.

We were called to a house in Coopersale Street, Epping yesterday at 3.25pm and crews from Loughton and Harlow attended.

Fortunately, the occupant heard a smoke alarm sounding, found a towel on fire and was able to extinguish it before the fire spread.

Watch Manager Jason Hayward said: "The occupant was using a crystal ball ornament as doorstop in the bathroom.

"The sunlight came through the window, reflected off the ornament and set fire to a pile of towels.

UPDATED 10AM (27 JANUARY)

Crews left the scene at 12.16am and revisited the property this morning.

The cause has been recorded as accidental.

UPDATE 8PM

Crews have extinguished the fire but will remain at the scene into the evening.

Station Manager Jason Gould, Incident Commander, said: "Crews were faced with a fire in the roof space of a timber framed detached house.

"They did a fantastic job in getting control of the fire, but it had spread to the ceiling and roof voids.

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.