Crews were called to Caspian Way, Thurrock, this morning when a smoke alarm alerted a neighbour to a fire in a ground floor flat.

On arrival, firefighters confirmed there was a fire in the kitchen, caused by cooking which had been left unattended. The flat and surrounding hallways were heavily smoke-logged.

Crews worked to extinguish the fire by 10:15am, and then cleared the building of smoke.

Crews were called to Coppins Road in Clacton-on-Sea this afternoon, when a bonfire spread out of control.

On arrival, firefighters confirmed that there a bonfire had spread to a neighbouring garden. A shed, greenhouse and outbuilding were alight.

Crews worked hard to extinguish the fire by 12:31pm.

Unfortunately, the shed has been completely destroyed as a result of the fire. The greenhouse and outbuilding have also been damaged.

Firefighters are giving candle fire safety advice after a candle caused a garden fire in Waltham Abbey earlier today.

On arrival, crews reported that a garden fire was beginning to affect the rear of a house.

Firefighters from Loughton and our colleagues in Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service worked to extinguish the fire by 12:28pm.

Crews believe the fire was caused by a candle burning in the garden.

Firefighters are advising residents to make sure incense sticks are stubbed out after embers caught rubbish alight in Broomfield earlier today.

Crews were called to a garden fire in Broomfield and on arrival reported that the fire was beginning to affect the rear of a house.

Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire by 1:19pm and believe it was caused by an incense stick that had caught cardboard in the garden alight.

A number of fence panels were damaged and the rear of the house suffered smoke damage.

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire in Corringham on Saturday evening.

On arrival, crews confirmed that an initial shed fire had affected three properties after spreading along a garden fence and through the roof space.

Firefighters worked incredibly hard to get the fire under control as quickly as possible.

One man suffered from smoke inhalation.

Unfortunately, one home has been destroyed, while the adjacent properties have also been affected by smoke damage.

We believe this fire was caused accidentally.

Crews extinguished a fire at an industrial unit on Canvey.

Our Control team received reports of a fire in Shannon Way today at 1.45pm and sent crews from Canvey, Southend, Basildon and Orsett, along with an Aerial Ladder Platform, from Grays.

Firefighters found a building alight. It measured approximately 15 metres by 20 metres and contained paper, cardboard and plastic.

They extinguished the fire by 3.30pm and remained at the scene to dampen down.

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire involving a large quantity of tyres at a site in Braintree on Wednesday night.

On arrival, crews confirmed that around 30 square metres of tyres within an external storage facility were alight.

Firefighters immediately called for additional support to establish a good supply of water and ensure enough personnel were on scene to surround the fire as quickly as possible. The incident was also divided into four sectors to allow crews to tackle the fire from different angles.

Firefighters have highlighted the importance of having working smoke alarms in your home after a family of five were alerted to a fire in their bedroom in Wickford.

On arrival crews confirmed that a fire was burning in a third storey bedroom.

Watch Manager Adam Barber said: "Thanks to the working smoke alarms in this home, everyone was alerted as early as possible to the fire. Not only did that mean they could get out, stay out and call the Fire Service out, but it meant we could be there quickly to get the fire under control.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a lorry fire on the A13 at Aveley.

*Please avoid the area if you can and if you are driving nearby, please keep your windows shut as there is a lot of smoke coming from the scene.*

Six crews are working to extinguish a fire within a 40ft container and expect to remain on scene for several hours.

One lane of the A13 Northbound is closed while we deal with this incident.

Update 2:45pm

Firefighters rescued May, an Old English Sheepdog, earlier today after she became stuck in the mud in Heybridge.

Crews from Maldon, Chelmsford and our Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team were called to Heybridge at 3:30pm.

On arrival, crews reported that a dog was stuck in the mud after having a swim in the River Chelmer.

Two people had attempted to rescue her but were unable to reach her and called for help.

May had managed to get herself onto an island and crews worked to rescue her.