Firefighters are advising residents to place bonfires and fire pits well away from any flammable materials like sheds, fences, trees etc after a fire in Writtle in the early hours of this morning. 

Crews were called to East View, Writtle at 3:32am where a fire had spread from a garden to fence panels and to the roof spaces of two houses.

On arrival, crews reported that the fire was affecting three properties and requested the help of Brentwood and Ingatestone fire stations as well as an Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) from Grays Fire Station. 

Crews were called to a flat fire in Chigwell last night, when a toaster caught alight and destroyed the family kitchen.

Firefighters were called to a fire in a ground floor flat in Chigwell at 8:30pm, when a smoke alarm alerted a mother to a fire in the kitchen.

On arrival, crews confirmed that there was a fire in the kitchen, caused by a toaster and the property was heaily smoke-logged.

Firefighters from Loughton (ECFRS) were joined by three crews from London Fire Brigade who worked quickly together to extinguish the fire by 9:05pm.

Firefighters were called to a kitchen fire in Brightlingsea this afternoon after items left on the hob caught alight.

On arrival, crews reported that a kitchen was smoke logged and gained access to the property.

Crews worked to extinguish the fire by 2:43pm.

Firefighters believe the fire was caused when the hob was accidentally turned on and are advising residents not to leave items on the hob and to keep the area clear after cooking. Where possible, always switch cooking appliances off at the switch.

Could you be an on-cal firefighter?

Firefighters are advising residents to ensure embers from bonfires and incinerators are fully cooled before leaving them after a fire in Heybridge in the early hours of this morning.

Crews were called to Basin Road, Heybridge at 2:51am and on arrival reported that a garage was 100% alight and the fire had started to spread to the house attached.

Crews worked to extinguish the fire by 4:28am.

The garage was destroyed and the kitchen in the house was smoke damaged.

Firefighters believe the fire was started by embers from an incinerator.

Update 1:30pm 

Crews are making steady progress to extinguish the fire using an Aerial Ladder Platform from above as well as from the ground.

Incident Commander Richie Green said: "We will be scaling this incident down to six crews shortly and we expect to remain at the scene into the evening and potentially overnight to monitor hot spots within the building.

"Our priority is to extinguish the fire and help to safely escort staff in the area away from the site as they head home from work.

Firefighters are advising residents to make sure cigarettes are properly stubbed out after a rubbish fire in Grays this morning.

Crews were called to a fire in High Street, Grays after a discarded cigarette caught rubbish alight.

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 10:02am.

Watch Manager Gary Bannister from Grays Fire Station said: “If you’re a smoker, please make sure to properly extinguish your cigarettes. Make sure they are properly stubbed out before you discard them as the embers can quickly catch nearby materials alight.

Firefighters are advising residents not to cook while tired after a man was rescued during a kitchen fire in Colchester earlier today.

Crews from Colchester, Wivenhoe and Brightlingsea were called to a kitchen fire in Rosalind Close, Colchester after a neighbour called 999 when they heard smoke alarms going off.

On arrival, crews reported that there was a fire in an oven and the kitchen was heavily smoke logged.

Colchester firefighters rescued Wish, a four-month old Border Collie puppy today after she became trapped under a bridge near a pond.

Crews were called to a country park in Turner Road, Colchester where Wish had been playing with her owners before taking a dip in the pond and getting trapped under a bridge on the other side.

Firefighter used a reach pole to rescue Wish by 12:03pm and she was left in the care of her owners.

Do you have working smoke alarms in your home?

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms after we were called to a kitchen fire by neighbours who heard smoke alarms going off.

Crews were called to a house fire in High View Avenue, Grays at 1:17pm after neighbours called 999 when they heard smoke alarms going off and could smell smoke.

On arrival, crews reported there was a pan on fire on the hob and the fire was spreading to the kitchen cabinets.

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 1:52pm.

Crews were called to a property in Daiglen Drive, South Ockendon earlier today when a neighbour noticed a garden fire had spread into a conservatory.

Firefighters were called to a house in South Ockendon at 3:11pm, when a chiminea caused a fire which spread out of control.

On arrival, crews confirmed that there was a fire in the garden, the conservatory and the loft. Crews soon discovered that the fire had also spread into the loft of the adjoining property.