Firefighters are highlighting the importance of working smoke alarms after they alerted a resident to an electrical fire in Chelmsford earlier today.

Crews were called to a house fire in Wright Mead, Springfield at 9:58am after the resident heard their smoke alarms going off.

On arrival, crews reported that there was a fire in the kitchen of a semi detached house.

Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire by 10:56am and believe it was caused by an electrical fault in a fridge freezer.

Firefighters were called to a bus fire on Great Knightleys, Basildon at 7:38am.

On arrival, crews reported that the front of a hybrid bus was on fire.

Three crews worked with the bus management company and engineers to extinguish the fire by 8:52am.

The cause of the fire was accidental.

Firefighters were called to a fire in a derelict building this afternoon (Saturday 8 October).

This the second time we have been called to this address this month.

Fire crews reported that the fire was in the roof space of the two storey building. Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform to put water on the fire from above (see pic).

The fire was extinguished by 6pm. An investigation to find the cause of the fire will be carried out.

Firefighters were called to reports of a barn on fire in Colchester last night (Sunday 9 October).

The building, which measured approximately 20m x 10m, contained a number of cylinders. Firefighters removed the cylinders from the building to avoid them being involved in the fire.

The fire was extinguished at 11pm. Fire crews will remain on site overnight to ensure all the hotspots are fully extinguished.

An investigation will be carried out to establish the cause of the fire.

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision involving one bus in Colchester.

When fire crews arrived, they reported that all the passengers were safely off the bus.

*Update 10am* Fire crews are helping to make the scene safe. The driver is being seen to by paramedics.

*Update 10:30am* The driver has been left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Cymbeline Way has been temporarily closed while the incident is dealt with safely.

Firefighters were called to reports of a dog who had fallen off a cliff and was perched approximately 10m down the cliff-face. The cliff was approximately 50m high.

One year old Shih Tzu, Bonnie, was out walking with her owner when she slipped and fell.

Crews from our Urban Search and Rescue team (based in Lexden) got to the scene and due to the distance and uneveness of the cliff, set up their specialist ropes to rescue the dog.

The team managed to rescue Bonnie by 3pm.

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms at home after a neighbour called us to a kitchen fire in Colchester.

Crews were called to Lordswood Road at 9:09am after a neighbour heard smoke alarms going off and could see smoke. The neighbour acted quickly to call us.

On arrival, crews reported that the kitchen of a house was heavily smoke logged and there was a small fire on the hob.

Crews extinguished the fire by 9:36am. Firefighters believe it was caused when a cat turned the hob on and items on top of the hob caught alight.

Crews extinguished a fire affecting an outbuilding and acetyline cylinders.

Our Control team were called to reports of a fire in Hamlet Hill, Roydon Hamlet today at 9.24am.

Two crews from Harlow and one from Epping attended and found an outbuilding, measuring approximately 35 square metres and containing two acetyline cylinders, alight.

Crews quickly extinguished the fire and continued to cool the cylinders until 11.03am.

The cause has been recorded as accidental.

Firefighters were called to reports of a flat fire in Clacton on Saturday morning.

On arrival crews confirmed that a first floor flat (the top floor of the property) was around 20% alight.

Crews immediately called for support, including an Aerial Ladder Platform which allowed firefighters to tackle the fire from above and stop it spreading in the roof space.

The fire was out by 7.50am.

Station Manager Ryan Ainger said: "When our crews arrived, the fire was developing quickly - but thanks to their hard work, it was under control as soon as possible.

Firefighters were called to a kitchen fire at a restaurant in West Thurrock Way, Grays last night.

On arrival, crews reported that a fire in the grill had spread to a cavity wall of the kitchen behind metal sheeting.

Crews worked to cut away at the wall to extinguish the fire by 11:30pm.

The fire was contained to the kitchen.