Fire crews have stressed the importance of working smoke alarms after a family was woken by theirs during the early hours to discover a fire in their home. 

Firefighters were called to the semi-detached house in Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, after the family of four and their dog escaped the property and called 999. 

On arrival, firefighters reported that there was a well-developed fire in the lounge and kitchen area with heavy smoke logging throughout the property. 

Watch Manager Gavin Ellis said:

Crews were called to a road traffic collision involving two vehicles this morning 

On arrival, firefighters reported that one man was trapped in his car and used cutting equipment to release him by 6.58am. 

The casualty was left in the care of the Ambulance Service. 

Firefighters were called to a shed fire caused by hot embers in Colchester earlier today.

On arrival, crews reported that a shed measuring 5 metres by 4 metres was on fire and worked to extinguish it by 1:20pm.

Firefighters rescued a man who was trapped inside a digger that had fallen in a pit earlier today.

Crews were called to Progress Road in Southend to reports that a digger had slipped into a hole leaving a man trapped inside the digger.

Firefighters worked with colleagues in the Ambulance Service to rescue the man by 4:50pm. He was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters assisted at the scene of a road traffic collision this afternoon.

On arrival, crews confirmed that one female was trapped following the incident, which involved one other vehicle.

Firefighters managed to release the casualty by 3.19pm, before leaving her in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire affecting a large agricultural building in the early hours of Monday morning.

On arrival, crews confirmed that the building, which is single storey and measures approximately 140 metres by 15 metres, was completely alight.

Callers reported seeing smoke from the fire from the nearby A120 to Control teams.

Due to the remote location of the fire, the Officer in Charge called for the support of a Water Bowser, a vehicle which can carry a large amount of water to help maintain supply for crews.

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision on the M11 on Monday evening.

On arrival, crews confirmed that five vehicles had been involved in the incident, which occurred on the northbound carriageway between junction 7 (Harlow) and junction 8 (Bishop's Stortford). One person was trapped in a vehicle.

Firefighters worked hard to release the casualty by 9.51pm before leaving them in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire in a derelict building in Loughton on Tuesday afternoon.

Crews confirmed on arrival that around 30% of the building, which measures roughly 12 metres by 10 metres, was alight.

The fire was extinguished by 5.42pm. We believe this fire was caused deliberately.

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Waltham Abbey's firefighters are on-call firefighters who all live or work within 5 minutes of Waltham Abbey Fire Station.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a fire at a home in Tilbury.

On arrival crews confirmed that a fire was burning in the kitchen of the property.

The fire was extinguished by 5.47pm.

We believe the fire was caused accidentally, after a tumbledryer ignited.

Using your tumbledryer safely

We recommend the following safety advice when using your tumbledryer:

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision in Colchester on Tuesday evening.

On arrival crews confirmed that one person was trapped in a vehicle, which was on its side following the incident. No other vehicles were involved.

Firefighters managed to release the casualty by 9.31pm.