Firefighters rescued two dogs and four guinea pigs from a smoke filled property in Pitsea today after neighbours called us when they heard smoke alarms going off.

Crews were called to Broomfields, Pitsea at 1:13pm to reports that smoke alarms were going off and the neighbours could smell smoke.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the smoke filled house and found a pan on fire on the hob.

Crews extinguished the fire by 1:32pm and ventilated the property.

Firefighters have been called to reports of a fire in a derelict building in Colchester.

The building, which measures approximately 15m x 30m, comprises of five sections.

Greenstead Road has been temporarily closed so crews can work safely. Please avoid the area.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by 3pm.

The is not known what caused the fire.

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a woman stuck in her car in a flooded ford near Chelmsford.

When fire crews arrived they reported the occupant was stuck in their vehicle in 4 foot of water. The water had entered the vehicle and was now up to the women's chest. Firefighters from Chelmsford Fire Station were first on scene and kept the woman calm until the specialist boat team from Colchester arrived.

Three firefighters waded into the water using safety equipment to make sure the woman was rescued and brought to dry land.

Firefighters were called to a tumble dryer fire in a pub in Colchester earlier today.

On arrival, crews reported that a flat above the pub was smoke logged.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus found a fire in a tumble dryer and extinguished it by 8:27pm. The cause of the fire was accidental after the contents of the tumble dryer had overheated while the dryer was on.

Crews ventilated the pub and with the damage contained to the washing machine, the flat and pub were safe to return to.

Firefighters helped to release a horse this morning, after it had become trapped in its stable.

Paddy the horse, who is 13 years old, had got his leg trapped between metal bars and a dividing stable overnight.

Firefighters from Maldon and Chelmsford's specialist Animal Rescue Unit worked alongside a vet to carefully release the animal's leg.

Martin Cable, Watch Manager at Maldon Fire Station, said: "I'd like to thank the crews who were here this morning for the way they handled this incident with such care and professionalism.

Firefighters rescued a man following a road traffic collision on the M25, Grays this morning.

Crews were called at 11am to reports of a road traffic collision on the M25, Grays between Junction 30 and 31.

Five crews worked to rescue the man after two lorries had collided.

Firefighters rescued the man by 12:18pm and he was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters are encouraging residents to test their smoke alarms regularly after we were called to a kitchen fire in Colchester earlier today by a neighbour.

A crew from Colchester was called to a kitchen fire in Linnet Mews at 2:08pm after a neighbour could hear smoke alarms going off.

On arrival, crews reported that a pan was on fire on top of the hob and extinguished the fire by 2:20pm.

Do you have working smoke alarms at home?

This month, we're encouraging all residents to make sure they have enough working smoke alarms at home. 

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire on a canal boat in Roydon on Tuesday night.

On arrival, crews confirmed that a fire was burning in the bathroom of the boat, leaving the rest of the premises completely smoke logged. The boat was moored at the time and thankfully, one man and his dog both managed to get off safely after being alerted by a smoke alarm.

The fire was out by 0.30am. We believe it was caused accidentally when the heat from the chimney of a log burner spread through to an adjacent airing cupboard, igniting towels and other materials.

Firefighters rescued a paddle boarder after she got into difficulty on the River Stour at Flatford.

The woman fell into the water and her paddle board floated away today at 12.08pm. She managed to hold onto a tree and alert a passer-by who called 999.

Crews from Manningtree, Colchester and our Urban Search and Rescue team attended.

Station Manager Terry Maher said: "Although she was wearing a wetsuit, she didn't have a life jacket or floatation device and she hadn't used a leash to attach her to the paddle board and unfortunately it floated away from her.