Essex County Fire and Rescue Service offers a 24/7 service to the press. Our incident database is updated on a regular basis by the media team and we have established a hotline - 01376 570 814 - where you will be able to reach us round-the-clock. We do ask that routine check calls are not made between 10pm and 6am, because all items of interest will be posted here as they happen. Please note this is NOT a service for the public and press from outside our local area are asked politely to adhere to these guidelines.
Photographs from incidents may be downloaded for publication. These may be used free of charge by all accredited newspapers and media agencies providing they carry a credit to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. Breaches of this arrangement will result in an invoice of £70 per image. Our film footage may also be used under similar arrangement.
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 15475
Date: 22-07-2010
Time: 16:20
Details: RTC - person trapped
Address: Piercing hill, Theydon Bois
Attendance: 1 x Epping, 1 x Loughton, 1 x Harlow
Firefighters released a woman trapped in her vehicle following a one vehicle RTC. Using two sets of hydraulic cutting equipment crews had released her by 16:37hrs leaving her in the care of the ambulance service. -
Details/ImagesIncident No: 15447
Date: 22-07-2010
Time: 08:55
Details: Oven Fire
Address: Marine Court, Centurion Way, Purfleet
Attendance: 2 x Grays
Firefighters gave a 33 year-old man oxygen therapy after he suffered smoke inhalation from a fire in his oven.
The fire was out when crews arrived although it had created enough smoke to hurt the man.
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 15324
Date: 20-07-2010
Time: 23:56
Details: Beach huts alight
Address: Thorpe Esplanade, Southend
Attendance: 1 x Shoebury, 1 x Southend, 1 x Rochford
Firefighters used two hose reels and one jet to tackle a fire involving four beach huts.
The incident was dealt with by 00:38 hrs. A joint Police and Fire Service investigation will be carried out to establish the cause.
Initially two appliances were sent to the scene, but on arrival the first crew said the huts were well alight and requested the attendance of an additional appliance. -
Details/ImagesIncident No: 15255
Date: 19-07-2010
Time: 11:47
Details: Woman with finger trapped in shredder
Address: Gilgrove County Junior School, The Gore, Basildon
Attendance: 1 x Basildon, 1 x Grays
Crews released a 65 year-old woman who had got her finger trapped in a shredder. Using small tools they had released her by 12:14hrs.
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 15152
Date: 19-07-2010
Time: 16:16
Details: RTC - four vehicles
Address: B1383, Quendon
Attendance: 1 x Saffron Walden, 1 x Dunmow, 1 x Harlow Rescue Tender
Firefighters are working to release one person trapped following a four vehicle RTC which left one car overturned.
Crews are using two sets of hydraulic cutting equipment.
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 15133
Date: 19-07-2010
Time: 13:21
Details: Dog stuck in chimney breast
Address: Church Street, Bocking, Braintree
Attendance: 1 x Braintree
Firefighters were called to assist in the rescue of a dog, stuck up a chimney breast. They used hand tools to release the animal unhurt.
The incident was dealt with by 13:44 hrs.
Station Officer Steve Wintrip said: "The dog is a chocolate brown spaniel called Molly, she had gone into the chimney crest herself and once in there climbed up onto a little shelf and been unable to turn around or get out.
"We had to take part of the hearth down and smash our way in with a hammer. We did as little damage as we could and made sure that we got Molly out safe and sound.
"She didn't seem afraid at all, in fact she seemed to love all the attention she was getting! She is a love;y, friendly dog and we were glad to get her out safely and back top the loving arms of her owners."
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 15120
Date: 19-07-2010
Time: 10:43
Details: Cylinder alight - exclusion zone in place
Address: J Brock and Son, Woodhams Farm, Cutlers Green, Thaxted
Attendance: 1 x Saffron Walden, 1 x Dunmow, 1 x Newport, 2 x Rayleigh Weir (including hose layer)
Crews were called to cylinder alight. A 200m exclusion zone has been established and efforts are being made to cool the acetylene cylinder. No-one has had to be evacuated as the incident is on farmland in a rural location.
At 11:07 hrs, the officer in charge, Station Officer Paul Curtis reported that one acetylene cylinder was alight within a farm yard area. A water source was being located and a ground monitor was in use to cool the cylinder and reduce the likelihood of its explosion. A specialist Hazmat officer is being sent to the scene.
At 13:01 hrs, crews report that steady progress is being made in cooling the cylinder. A water supply has been re-established and officers are preparing to do a test on the cylinder to see if it has cooled sufficiently to be moved.
At 13:57 hrs, crews report that the cylinder has been tested and is not yet safe to move. A further test will be carried out in one hour. Meanwhile cooling operations continue and the exclusion zone remains in place.
A hose-layer and support pump from Rayleigh Weir has been ordered to the incident.
At 16:555 hrs The exclusion zone remains in place and is expected to for many hours yet. Crews are using a monitor to cool the cylinder.
A one pump relief crew is expected to take over cooling operations at 21:15 hrs.
Update - Crews remained at the scene cooling the cylinder until 12:04hrs Tuesday July 20. At this time the scene was declared safe and left in the hands of the farm owner.
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Details/ImagesDate: 19-07-2010
Time: 09:30
Details: House fire
Address: Burton End, Stansted
Attendance: 1 x Stansted, 1 x Newport
Crews wearing breathing apparatus used one hose reel to tackle a fire in a roof void of a semi detached house. At 10:02 hrs, firefighters reported that the fire had been extinguished and that they were making steady progress in turning over and damping down. A high pressure fan was used to clear the property, measuring 15m x 10m, of smoke.
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 15098
Date: 19-07-2010
Time: 05:51
Details: Bungalow alight
Address: Straight Road, Colchester
Attendance: 2 x Colchester
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using two hose reels to tackle a bungalow fire. Crews report that the roof of the property, measuring 8m x 8m, is well alight.
Update at 06:31 hrs: Crews report that the fire is now surrounded. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using two hose reels to tackle the incident. There are no casualties.
At 06:52 hrs, the officer in charge reports that the fire is out. Crews will remain at the scene for some 30 minutes, turning over and damping down to ensure the fire remains fully extinguyished.
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 15012
Date: 18-07-2010
Time: 09:34
Details: House fire prompts bonfire warning
Address: Browns End Road, Broxted
Attendance: 1 x Stansted, 2 x Dunmow, 1 x Bishops Stortford (Herts FRS)
A garden bonfire has triggered a blaze in Broxted and prompted a warning from firefighters about the dangers of disposing of household rubbish too close to property.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels and one main jet to tackle a blaze involving a single storey wooden annexe measuring 20x x 15m. Crews reported that the building was well alight when they arrived at the scene. Fortunately the property, refurbished for rental but unoccupied at the time, was not attached to the main house.
By 10:33 hrs, crews reported that steady progress was being made in bringing the blaze under control.
"This was an accidental fire caused by a bonfire burning out of control and catching fire to a wooden building behind the main house," said Assistant Divisional Officer Ian Adams. "This is a particularly popular time for clearing up the house and garden and we would urge people to pay close attention to where they are lighting fires, particularly if there are surrounding buildings.
"Ideally fires should be set in a contained environment, well away from buildings and people should take account of the weather conditions, particularly the wind. Domestic bonfires should never be left unattended as they can cause very serious damage if they burn out of control.
"The safest course of action is definitely to dispose of your rubbish and unwanted household items at the local refuse tip."
Initially two appliances were sent to tackle the incident. But on arrival, the officer in charge requested the attendance of an additional two appliances. The incident was dealt with by 11:17 hrs. A revisit is planned to ensure the fire remains fully extinguished at 14:15 hrs.
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