Firefighters have issued advice to residents after we were called to two separate chimney fires last night – one in Little Bardfield and another in Asheldham. 

Fortunately, both fires were extinguished quickly and nobody was harmed.

The latest statistics show that there are approximately 7,000 chimney fires a year in England, but most of these can be prevented.

Experienced firefighter, Nick Singleton, said: "To keep yourself and your family safe from fire you should have your chimney swept regularly – at least once a year.

Firefighters rescued a man following a road traffic collision on the A120 near Marks Tey.

Crews were called today at 2.57pm and on arrival reported a man was trapped in his car.

Firefighters used specialist cutting equipment to free him by 3.45pm and he was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Crews also contained a diesel spill and stopped it entering a drain.

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Firefighters have given safety advice about what to do if you have an oil fire following a chip pan fire in Wickford last night.

Crews were called to a kitchen fire in Jersey Gardens, Wickford at 9:42pm.

On arrival, crews reported that a chip pan was on fire and had spread to the kitchen curtains.

Crews extinguished the fire by 10:22pm.

A man was left in the care of the Ambulance Service after suffering smoke inhalation.

Firefighters from Basildon Fire Station fitted two smoke alarms at the property as there were no working smoke alarms inside.

Firefighters have given safety advice for residents who use log burners and open fires at home after a chimney fire in Shoeburyness yesterday.

A crew from Shoeburyness was called to Ness Road, Shoebury at 2:21pm to reports of a chimney fire.

Crews used chimney rods and a stirrup pump to help them extinguish the fire by 3pm.

Firefighters fitted three smoke alarms while at the property as there were no working smoke alarms in the home.

Update: 

An investigation into the cause of the gas explosion found it was accidental. 

The Fire Service recommends residents recognise the importance of gas safety:

Firefighters have given safety advice after a bonfire spread out of control and damaged three trees.

A crew from Waltham Abbey were called to the garden of a house in Loughton at 12.30pm and extinguished the fire by 12.58pm.

Crew Manager Mav Langdon from Waltham Abbey Fire Station said: “This was a small fire that had got out of control and caused damage to some nearby trees which were close to the house.

Crews rescued and revived a man from a house fire in Chadwell St Mary.

Firefighters from Orsett and Grays attended Bowerman Road today at 2.24am and found the first floor of a two-storey house was 50% alight.

A neighbour had raised the alarm and reported that the occupant might still be inside.

Firefighters found a man in his seventies who was unconscious and not breathing.

Station Manager Mark Elliott said: "We received good information from the caller that someone might be inside, so firefighters got into the building quickly.

Firefighters were called to a property in Thurrock earlier today, when passers-by alerted a resident to a fire at the rear of their home.

Crews were called to Blackshots Lane, Grays, at 11:14am, after a young male was made aware of a fire at the back of his home by passers-by.

On arrival, firefighters confirmed there was a fire at the rear of the property. The fire had started outside and quickly spread to the rear door and fascias, and had started to spread into the kitchen which was heavily smoke-logged.

Firefighters helped to release a curious puppy who had managed to get stuck in a food tin this evening.

The owner brought the 6 month old French Bulldog, called Bo, into Basildon Fire Station at around 6.45pm on Friday.

Crews reassured the dog and carefully used small tools to release its head from the tin. Thankfully, Bo was unharmed.

Howard Midwood, Watch Manager at Basildon Fire Station, said: "Clearly, this wasn't a typical incident for our firefighters but when Bo and his owner arrived, we knew we'd be able to help.

Firefighters were called to a road traffic collision on Parklands, Waltham Abbey at 12:55pm on 10th January 2022.

On arrival, crews reported that two vehicles had collided and two people were trapped inside one of the vehicles.

Crews worked to release two people and a dog who were left in the care of the Ambulance Service. 

Firefighters worked to make the scene safe by 1:52pm.

Sadly, two of the people involved in the collision passed away.