Firefighters rescued a horse after it got trapped in a ditch.

We received a call yesterday (Sunday) at 8pm after a horse, measuring 16.2 hands (5.3ft) and weighing about 430kg (67 stone), had slipped off a bridge between two fields and was trapped in water.  

The horse had suffered cuts to back legs but was still standing and was calm.

Crews from Dovercourt and our Animal Rescue Unit from Chelmsford attended. Working with the horse's owner and a vet, they were able to cut back vegetation and help the horse to safety by 11.01pm.

Firefighters were called to a field fire in Aythorpe Roding this afternoon.

On arrival, crews reported that two hectares of stubble was on fire.

Crews worked to extinguish the fire by 2:40pm and believe it was caused by bonfire embers.

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Firefighters attending this incident are on-call firefighters, who live or work within 5 minutes of their station and are paid to protect their community. 

UPDATED 9PM (WEDNESDAY 31 AUGUST)

The fire was extinguished at 7.30pm. Crews are still at the scene dampening down.

A revisit will take place in the morning.

The cause has been recorded as accidental.

Crews have surrounded a fire affecting 12 acres (5 hectares) of grass and woodland in Tollesbury.

We were called to reports of a fire in the open at Old Hall Marshes today at 10.30am.

Update 10.30pm

Our crew have now left the scene and handed over to the Highways Agency.

Update 6:30pm

We have one crew remaining at the scene monitoring hotspots on the lorry while it is being recovered.

Update 2pm:

We’ve scaled this incident down to one crew who will remain at the scene monitoring hotspots and making the scene safe.

We expect remain on scene for several hours.

Update: 11:25am

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms after neighbours called us about a fire in Vange when they heard alarms going off.

Crews were called to Ryedene Place, Vange at 9:42am to reports of alarms going off.

On arrival, crews reported that a kitchen in ground floor flat was on fire.

Crews extinguished the fire by 10:40am and believe it was caused when the hob was accidentally left on with a box on top.

Firefighters have continued working hard across the county today. Here are few more, although please note this is not a full list.

Incident Number: 175943

Large Fire in the Open

New Kiln Road, Colchester

Time of call: 12:01 14/08/2022

Attendance: 2 x Colchester, 1 x Clacton, 1 x West Mersea

PHOTOS: Firefighters worked quickly to stop a fire in the open from spreading to homes in Hillyfields, Colchester today.

Crews were called at 12.01pm to 200 metres of grass alight which had spread to hedges and eight gardens.

Firefighters stopped a large field fire in East Tilbury from spreading to Coalhouse Fort, a nearby church and homes this afternoon.

Crews were called to land off Princess Margaret Road at 10.54am to reports of a large field fire. The fire damaged eight hectares of land but was put out thanks to the hard work and efforts of the team at 2.43pm.

Firefighters have issued safety advice following a fire which damaged a house in South Woodham Ferrers today.

Crews were called to the property in Creekview Road at 2.24pm following concerns that something was smouldering in the guttering of the house and there was the smell of smoke.

They found a small fire which had damaged the guttering and the fascia. It is believed to have been caused by a discarded cigarette that wasn’t fully extinguished.

Firefighters quickly tackled a fire near the A12 at Stanway this afternoon.

We were called at 2.48pm to 200 metres of grass, trees and hedge that was alight. Colleagues from Essex Police put road closures in place and evacuated nearby businesses as a precaution. 

The fire was out at 3.45pm.

Tintin the donkey had quite the adventure today after he got stuck in some mud and was rescued by our firefighters.

Our Animal Rescue Unit from Chelmsford and a crew from Harlow were called to Church Lane in Great Hallingbury at 8.32am to help Tintin get back on his hooves.