Firefighters have urged people to make sure they keep their hobs clean and clear after a kitchen fire in Colchester this afternoon.

When crews arrived at the property, the kitchen was heavily smoke-logged. A slow cooker had been placed on the hob - and when the hob was accidentally turned on, the slow cooker caught fire.

Fortunately, smoke alarms sounded and the occupants managed to close the kitchen door to prevent the fire from spreading further, before getting out of the property safely.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a fire in an industrial unit in Canvey this morning.

On arrival, crews confirmed the unit, which measures approximately 150 metres by 50 metres, was completely alight.

Crews worked hard to surround the fire as quickly as possible, including by using an Aerial Ladder Platform to spray water on the building from above.

At 7.30am, two crews remained at the scene dampening down hotspots.

Firefighters were called to a property in Chadwell St. Mary this morning, after a mum discovered a fire in her kitchen.

Crews were called to Hill House Drive at 11:39am.

On arrival, firefighters confirmed there was a fire in the kitchen, caused by a pan of oil which had overheated.

Crews worked to extinguish the fire by 12:07pm, and cleared the flat of smoke.

Firefighters were called to a lorry fire on the M11 Southbound between Junctions 7-6, Harlow at 7:38pm.

On arrival, crews reported that the front of the lorry was on fire and heavily smoke logged.

Crews worked to prevent the fire from spreading to the container and extinguished the fire by 8:19pm.

During the incident, a large amount of fuel spilled onto the road.

The M11 Southbound between Junctions 7-6 will be closed for several hours while the spillage is cleared. Please avoid the area.

Firefighters were called to a fire in a flight simulator in Clacton this afternoon.

Crews have been based at the Clacton Airshow in case of an emergency and were called to a fire in Marine Parade, Clacton at 2:05pm.

On arrival, crews reported that a flight simulator was on fire.

Firefighters evacuated the area and put a 20 metre cordon in place with help from police and Tendring council colleagues.

Crews extinguished the fire by 2:22pm.

Firefighters are currently dismantling the simulator to ensure all hotspots are fully extinguished.

A smoke alarm alerted occupants to a house fire in Southend.

We were called to Central Avenue yesterday (Saturday) at 6.57pm and crews from Southend and Leigh attended.

A remote control car battery left on charge had started a fire in a bedroom.

Watch Manager Dan Hart said: "Thick black smoke was coming out of a window when we arrived.

"Thankfully the occupants did exactly the right thing when they realised there was a fire: they got out, stayed out and called 999.

Crews tackled a bungalow fire in Nazeing this evening and managed to stop it from spreading to nearby properties.

We were called to reports of a fire in Epping Road today at 5.48pm.

Crews from Harlow, Loughton, Waltham Abbey, Epping, Cheshunt and Bishop's Stortford attended, along with the Incident Command Unit from Witham.

Station Manager Dave Bond said: "Crews were faced with a well-developed fire affecting a bungalow and adjoining outbuilding, which was close to a number of other properties.

Firefighters rescued a deer after its antlers got trapped in a barbed wire fence.

A crew from Stansted came to the aid of the stricken stag in Henham Road, Elsenham after our Control team were called yesterday (Sunday) at 12.10pm.

They restrained the deer and used tools to cut the wire - and it appeared to be unscathed, as it ran off as soon as it was released.

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Crews tackled a fire affecting two industrial units, four vehicles, a container and a caravan.

We were called to Oak Lane, Billericay today (Monday 29 August) just after 4am.

Our Control teams sent crews from Basildon, Wickford, Rayleigh and Brentwood. They found an industrial unit completely alight and the fire had spread to surrounding structures.

Crews worked hard to extinguish the fire by 5.34am.

An investigation will be carried out to establish the cause.

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