A woman has been left homeless after a hob ignited materials, causing a kitchen fire in a ground floor flat.

Control teams were alerted to the fire after a neighbour, who lives in the flat above, heard a smoke alarm sounding. The occupant of the flat itself was out at the time.

Crews reported on arrival that the flat was completely smoke logged.

Four animals - including a cat, puppy and two kittens - were rescued from the premises and fortunately were unharmed.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a burst water main in Braintree this morning.

On arrival, crews confirmed that several properties were being affected by the water.

Road closures are currently in place for all of Beckers Green Road and much of Cressing Road (from the junction of Beckers Green Road up to the A120 roundabout).

Crews worked hard to protect properties from the excess water and ensure the water level remained under control.

Firefighters were called to a fire in Clacton on Monday evening after a fridge freezer ignited in a shed.

Control teams were alerted after a neighbour immediately called 999 after seeing the flames. The occupant of the property was out at the time.

Crews reported on arrival that the fire had spread to the adjacent bungalow.

Firefighters worked hard to stop the fire spreading further, and managed to contain it to the external area and roof of the bungalow. The fire was extinguished by 10.56pm. The shed has been destroyed.

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

Crews from Clacton, Colchester and Weeley were called today at 11.31am. On arrival, they found a car and a van were involved in the collision and a man was trapped in the car.

Crews used specialist cutting and lifting equipment to release the man and left him in the care of the Ambulance Service by 12.51pm.

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Firefighters were called to reports of a flat fire in Chadwell St Mary this morning.

On arrival, crews confirmed that a fire was burning in a flat on the 13th floor of the building.

Crews immediately evacuated residents of the other properties on the 13th floor and implemented the building's 'stay put' policy for all other occupants, which encourages those who are not at direct risk of fire or smoke to stay where they are and allow firefighters to tackle the fire quickly and efficiently.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a fire involving a two-storey converted restaurant in Fore Street, Harlow on Thursday morning.

Crews confirmed on arrival that the premises, which measures around 10 metres by 20 metres, was 25% alight and completely smoke logged. The fire itself had spread within the roof space.

Crews divided the area into sectors to allow them to surround the fire and make the scene safe as quickly as possible.

Crews have praised a resident after he followed safety advice when a fire started in his home.

Firefighters from Colchester, Tiptree and Nayland were called to a house fire in Bluebell Way, Colchester today (Thursday 14 April) at 1.05am. 

A laptop left charging on a bed had overheated and exploded, setting fire to bedding.

Watch Manager Darren Holliday said: "The occupant was woken by a loud bang and shortly afterwards heard his smoke alarm.

Firefighters have highlighted the importance of having working smoke alarms following a fire at a bungalow in St Osyth today.

Crews from Clacton were called at 11.50am after reports from a neighbour that they could hear a smoke alarm going off. There was no one inside the semi-detached property in Kincaid Road as the occupants had gone out.

Firefighters were called to a fire in Sheering earlier today after embers from a fire pit spread to a house.

On arrival, crews reported that external cladding on a house was on fire and worked to extinguish it by 1:45pm.

Firefighters believe the fire started after embers from a fire pit spread to the cladding. 

If you’re planning to have a bonfire or use a fire pit:

Update 7:30am

Crews worked throughout the evening with site staff to extinguish the fire and left the scene at 1:30am.

Firefighters will revisit the site at 8:30am to make sure the scene is still safe.

Watch Manager Dan Hart from Southend Fire Station said: “We want to send our thanks to the staff that worked with us throughout this large incident, particularly on the machinery.