PICTURES: Fire in an industrial building

Crews attended a fire in a disused industrial building in Thames Road, Canvey, during the early hours of this morning.

We were called at 2.30am and found a five metre by 10 metre detached building well alight.

Firefighters contained the fire, before using the aerial ladder platform to expose any hotspots in the roof.

The incident was finished at 5.30am and an investigation into the cause will be carried out.


Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Firefighters save two homes from being destroyed

Our on-call firefighters today saved two homes from being destroyed after a shed fire spread to two buildings.

Crews from Wethersfield, Dunmow and Braintree were called to Bendlowes Road in Great Bardfield at 12.23pm today after members of the public reported seeing plumes of smoke from as far as the A120.

Two sheds, which each housed 400 litre heating oil tanks, were on fire, with the heat from the blaze causing the two bungalows they belonged to, to catch fire as well.

PICTURES: Fire in a thatched roof cottage

Incident Update @17:45

Our crews left the scene at 3.24pm and the road has reopened. 


Firefighters have been working through the night following a fire at a property in Cressing Road, Braintree. Three crews remain on scene this morning dampening down. Cressing Road is closed between Coggeshall Road and Trotters Field because of the incident so motorists are asked to find alternative routes.

Firefighters tackle field fire

Crews have attended a field fire in Great Burstead, Billericay today. Firefighters were called at 11:31am following calls from the public that a hay field that had recently been cut was on fire.

The fire covered an area of around 200 square metres. Crews used beaters and an off road vehicle to extinguish it and quickly managed to stop it spreading to a neighbouring barley field, a nearby school and industrial area.

It was out by 12.40pm.

Major fire in Harwich

Update 21 June 17:15pm

An investigation has been unable to determine the cause of the fire.

Station Manager Lee Hurst, Fire Investigation Officer, said: "We have done everything we can and put in so much effort to get to the bottom of it.

"Unfortunately, because the fire was so intense and due to the damage caused to the buildings, it has been impossible to come to a definitive conclusion.  

Sunlight causes fire in Ongar

Firefighters were called to a property in Ongar at 9:35am this morning, after sunlight was refracted by a mirror and caused a fire.

On entering the property, firefighters confirmed there was a fire in the lounge and the property was heavily smoke-logged.

Crews worked to extinguish the fire by 10:12am, and cleared the property of smoke.

Watch Manager, Mark Curtis, at Harlow Fire Station, said: “It’s very rare we attend an incident where a fire has been caused by sunlight, but that’s exactly what happened today!

PICTURES: House fire after charger ignites

Firefighters were called to the scene of a house fire in Langdon Hills (near Basildon) on Tuesday evening.

On arrival, crews reported that the first floor of the building, which is terraced and measures approximately 8 metres by 5 metres, was well alight.

The officer in charge immediately called for the support of an Aerial Ladder Platform, which allows firefighters to spray water from height, to help get the fire under control.

Essex Police officers were also called to the scene to support with a safety cordon to allow firefighting to take place safely.

Neighbours praised for acting quickly when hearing smoke alarms

Firefighters are praising neighbours who alerted us to a kitchen fire when they heard smoke alarms going off in Newport this afternoon.

Crews from Newport and Saffron Walden were called to a Frambury Lane in Newport just after midday.

On arrival, crews reported a pan left on the hob had caught fire and extinguished it by 12:28pm.

Crew Manager Ollie Ford from Newport Fire Station said: “We’d like to praise the neighbours for calling us to this incident and we’d encourage residents to call us when you hear someone’s smoke alarms going off.