We were called to reports of a sinkhole in Rectory Road, Grays today at 11.40am.

An officer attended and confirmed a sinkhole, approximately 6ft by 4ft, was affecting the driveways of two semi-detached houses.

He requested a crew from Grays attend as a precaution, due to an exposed gas main. Our Urban Search and Rescue team are also in attendance, to assist with investigating the sinkhole further.

We were called to reports of a road traffic collision in Colchester Road, Halstead today at 10.24am.

Crews from Halstead and Wethersfield attended and found a car had collided with a lamppost and a woman was trapped.

Firefighters used specialist cutting equipment to rescue her and left her in the care of the Ambulance Service at 11.45am.

Firefighters were called to a block of flats this evening (Thursday 21 December) after a resident smelled smoke from another flat and called 999. 

Three crews from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and one from London Fire Brigade were called to London Road, Brentwood, and reported there was a fire in a second-floor flat. 

Station Manager Howard Midwood said:

"Brentwood's fire engine was first on the scene and Watch Manager Ben Stapleton and his crew did a fantastic job of stopping the fire from spreading to other flats within the building.

Crews have issued safety advice after a phone charger caused a bedroom fire in Basildon.

We were called by a passer-by who saw smoke coming from a window of a terraced house in Pendle Drive today at 1.28pm.

Crews from Basildon, Rayleigh Weir and Wickford attended and found a fire in a first floor bedroom, which they fully extinguished by 2.34pm.

Station Manager Scott Fretton said: "When crews arrived, the house was filled with smoke and the bedroom was completely alight. They did an excellent job to contain the fire to the bedroom.

Firefighters were called to London Road, Westcliff, this evening (Tuesday 20 December) after a fire started in a restaurant. 

In total, 18 people called 999 to report the fire due to the amount of smoke and the height of the flames. 

Six fire engines and an aerial ladder platform were requested and on arrival firefighters quickly surrounded the fire which had started in a ground floor restaurant and spread to a flat above. 

Station Manager Dave Walpole said:

Firefighters have been called to a number of cars stranded in flood water in Buttsbury Wash, near Billericay today.

In total, firefighters found three vehicles stuck in flood waters. One person was rescued from their van which was stuck in 5ft of water, and two elderly people were rescued from their car and one further car was found floating in flood waters, but after crews thoroughly checked inside, the vehicle was confirmed to be empty.

Crews were called to Roman Road, Radwinter following a road traffic collision involving one car which had left the roadway.

On arrival firefighters reported two people were trapped in the vehicle and worked to release them by 7.50pm.

The casualties were left in the care of the Ambulance Service. 

Crews were called to Colchester Road, Peldon, this afternoon after reports of a road traffic collision between two vehicles. 

On arrival firefighters confirmed that two people were trapped in their vehicle and worked to release them by 6.30pm. 

The casualties were left in the care of the Ambulance Service. 

Crews were called to a house in Leigh-on-Sea after reports of a smoke.

On arrival firefighters reported that the lounge was heavily smoke-logged and they suspected there was a fire in the chimney.

Crews worked to extinguish the fire using chimney rods and then used fans to clear the smoke from the house.