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: 14061
Date: 08-07-2010
Time: 13:58
Details: Man rescued from brook
Address: Prittlewell Brook, Highfield Crescent, Westcliff
Attendance: 1 x Rochford, 2 x Southend
Fire crews were called to a man who had fallen into a brook. The 40 year old man was stuck in the water and had injured both of his ankles, crews used a triple extension ladder to rescue the man by 14:29
He was then placed in the care of the Ambulance Service.
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 14058
Date: 08-07-2010
Time: 13:22
Details: Two men rescued from mud
Address: Leigh Marina, opposite the railway station, Leigh
Attendance: 1 x Leigh, 2 x Southend
Firefighters have rescued two men who were stuck in mud 50 yards off the coast.
Sub Officer Jeff Hammond said:
"The men had been out sailing and their boat had got stuck in mud as the tide was going out."The men decided to make their way to shore by walking in, as they nearly got back to dry land they hit a patch of sinking mud and become stranded. One man had back injuries and the other was exhausted.
"The RNLI's hovercraft was called in, but was unable to reach the men, so the fire service was requested."Fire crews laid out two inflatable rescue paths across the mud to reach the men. Firefighters rescued the two men, the man with back injuries was lifted onto a spine board and fire crews carried him back to the shoreside to waiting Ambulance Crews."
The men were rescued by 14:05 -
Details/ImagesIncident No: 14016
Date: 08-07-2010
Time: 00:37
Details: Woman rescued after fence fire
Address: London Road, Hadleigh (opposite old Hadleigh Fire Station
Attendance: 2 x Rayleigh Weir, 1 x Leigh
A joint Police and Fire Service investigation will be carried out into the cause of an incident which saw a 30-year-old woman rescued from a flat roof after escaping from her smoke-filled flat.
Crews were originally called to a fence alight and a single appliance was sent to the scene. But a further appliance was ordered after numerous calls to ECFRS' Control reporting that the incident also involved a car on fire by the entrance to flats, which were now being affected by dense smoke.
The preganant woman, believed to be in her 30s, escaped her flat onto a flat roof and firefighters brought her down by ladder. She was suffering from the affects of smoke inhalation and left in the care of Ambulance crews.
At 00:58 hrs, firefighters reported that it was rubbish alight in a communal staircase that also involved an external fence with smoke affecting some flats. They used two hose reels to tackle the incident, which was under control by 01:48 hrs.
Sub Officer Marc Diggory, officer in charge, said: "The woman was heavily pregnant and had climbed out of her flat window when her exit out of the front door was blocked by smoke. Because of her condition, the safest thing for us to do was to lead her down a ladder to safety.
"The fire appears to have started among rubbish in a staircase but spread to set light to a fence. It appears to have been started deliberately but we can't confirm that until our investigations are complete."
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 13875
Date: 06-07-2010
Time: 14:08
Details: Man injured in flat fire
Address: Bloyes Mews, Clarendon Way, Colchester
Attendance: 2 x Colchester, 1 x Manningtree
A 50-year-old man was taken to hospital suffering from the affects of smoke inhalation following a fire at his flat. The casualty was led to safety by crews and left in the care of Ambulance teams.
It is believed the man was cooking chips and fell asleep and the incident sparked a warning from crews about the dangers of doing just that. ECFRS' 'Fry and Die' campaign warns of the dangers of cooking while tired, or under the influence of alcohol. They say with unattended cooking, it only takes a minute for a fire to break out and urged people not to put their lives and those of their neighbours at risk.
"If you're feeling tired after a hard day's work or coming home after a few beers, pick up a take away or stick to a sandwich," said a fire service spokeswoman. "The kitchen is a dangerous place to be if you're likely to nod off."
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used one hose reel to tackle the incident, which was dealt with by 14:33 hrs.
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 13850
Date: 06-07-2010
Time: 09:53
Details: Two containers alight
Address: Stambourne Road, Great Yeldon
Attendance: 1 x Wethersfield, 1 x Halstead, 1 x Suffolk
Crews spent nearly four hours tackling a fire involving two containers packed with paper today.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used one main jet and one ground monitor to tackle the blaze. A joint Police and Fire Service investigation is under way to establish the cause of the incident, which broke out in the yard of a farm.
Initially two appliances were sent to tackle the incident, involving the two 30 foot containers. Firefighters reported that they were well alight when they arrived at the scene and a third appliance was ordered.
At 12:16 hrs, crews reported steady progress in bringing the flames under control. 50 per cent of the containers were destroyed by the fire. The incident was dealt with by 13:23 hrs, but crews remained at the scene turning over and damping down.
A one pump relief will revisit the scene at 18:00 hrs to ensure the fire remains fully extinguished.
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 13813
Date: 05-07-2010
Time: 20:26
Details: Large grass fire
Address: Hartford Road, Brentwood
Attendance: 2 x Brentwood, 1 x Ingatetone
Firefighters used two hose reels to tackle a large grass fire near St George's Playing Fields. The blaze involved a huge pile of cut grass measuring around 30m x 30m.
Originally one appliance was sent to tackle teh incident but on arrival the officer in charge requested an additional crew. A third crew was ordered to the scene for manpower as the fire took hold.
The incident was dealt with by 23:48 hrs. The cause is thought to be deliberate.
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 13741
Date: 05-07-2010
Time: 11:22
Details: RTC - one man trapped
Address: Roman Road, Margaretting
Attendance: 1 x Ingatestone, 1 x Chelmsford, 1 x Grays Rescue Tender
Firefighters are working to release a man trapped in his vehicle after it collided with a tree.
Firefighters are using two sets of hydraulic cutting equipment to release the man.
Update - Firefighters released the man by 11:59hrs leaving him in the care of the ambulance service. They used two sets of hydraulic cutting equipment to free him.
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 13717
Date: 05-07-2010
Time: 03:16
Details: Facia alight
Address: Padmore Butchers, High Street, Ongar
Attendance: 1 x Ongar, 1 x Brentwood
Firefighters used one hose reel to put out a fire involving a roof and awning of a butcher's shop.
Crews desbribed this as a small fire and at 03:35 hrs said the fire was under control and that they were cutting away to ensure that the fire was fully extinguished.
The incident was dealt with by 03:44 hrs. Th cause of the incident is still being investigated.
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 13708
Date: 04-07-2010
Time: 23:04
Details: Fatal flat fire
Address: Tithelands, Harlow
Attendance: 2 x Harlow, 1 x Old Harlow
One man has died in a flat fire in Harlow. A joint Police and Fire Service investigation into the cause of the fire will take place.
Crews were alerted after thick black smoke was seen coming from the flat. On arrival at the scene, crews reported that the property was well alight and heavily smoke logged. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus made a search as it was reported people may be inside. Police and Ambulance teams were called to the scene.
At 23:49 hours, the officer in charge reported that the fire had been extinguished and that crews were using a high pressure fan to clear the property of smoke. He confirmed one male fatality.
The incident was dealt with by 00:17 hrs but fire investigation and police scenes of crime officers remain at the scene.
We have no further information.
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Details/ImagesIncident No: 13661
Date: 04-07-2010
Time: 15:40
Details: 60 tonnes of hay on fire
Address: Weymarks Old Farm, Bradwell Aerodrome, Bradwell
Attendance: 2 x Burnham, 1 xWickford, 1 x Maldon, 1 x Woodham Ferrers
A shortage of water and high winds hampered firefighting operations as crews fought to bring a blaze involving 60 tonnes of baled hay under control.
Initially one appliance was sent to the incident, but on arrival at the scene, the officer in charge requested the attendance of an additional two appliances because of a shortage of water. Later, as high winds fanned flames, two additional appliances, including a special Pinzgauer off-road vehicle were also sent to the scene.
Firefighters used two hose reels to tackle the fire with the farm bowser covering surrounding areas. Farm workers used a fork lift to move bales so that crews could get to the seat of the fire.
At 17:49 hrs, firefighters reported that steady progress was being made. They were using two hose reels and a water relay to bring the fire under control.
The incident was dealt with by 18:33 hrs. The cause of the fire is thought to be accidental. Crews will revisit the scene of the fire at 21:30 hrs to ensure no hotspots have developed and that the blaze remains fully extinguished.
