A member of the public called 999 and alerted residents after spotting a fire in Waltham Abbey.

We were called to Market Square today (Wednesday 10 September) at 3.13am after she saw smoke coming from a shop.

Crews from Loughton, Epping and Cheshunt (two) attended and found a shop on the ground floor alight, with smoke affecting five flats on the first and second storeys.

Watch Manager Glenn Jackson said: "Fortunately a member of the public saw the smoke, called 999 and shouted to the occupants in the flats above the shop to get out.

Crews have extinguished a fire affecting a bungalow in Hadleigh.

We were called to Church Road today (Monday 8 September) at 3.07am and crews from Rayleigh Weir, Leigh and Southend (two), attended, along with an Aerial Ladder Platform from Grays.

A detached bungalow measuring about 30 metres by 15 metres was alight.

Station Manager Jason Gould said: "Crews were faced with a well-developed fire which had spread through the roof and most of the bungalow. They did a fantastic job of stopping it from spreading to nearby properties.

Crews have issued safety advice after they attended a fire at a flat which did not have smoke alarms.

We were called to a ground floor property in Springfield, Chelmsford today (Sunday 7 September) at 5.30pm and two crews from Chelmsford attended.

Although the fire was extinguished by 5.58pm, the damage means the family of three have been left temporarily homeless.

Watch Manager Mark Curtis said: "Thankfully the occupants noticed the fire and were able to get out unharmed, but smoke alarms provide an early warning.

Update at 9pm on Sunday 7 September

Crews have left the scene.

Update at 5pm on Saturday 6 September

We are still on the scene of the fire in Eastways, Witham. 

Area Manager Dave Bond said: "We are supporting the business that was affected by this fire and appreciate the impact that it has had on them and the community. The work of our teams prevented the fire from spreading further and impacting other premises and nearby properties.

A130 - serious road traffic collision

There has been a serious road traffic collision on the A130, at the Rayleigh Spur roundabout this morning (Monday 1 September)

Road closures:

 A1245, towards the A127 and to Sadlers Farm roundabout.

Firefighters were this afternoon called to a fire in a residential property near the Palace Theatre in London Road, Westcliff.

The fire - in the roof space of a flat neighbouring the theatre - was quickly contained by firefighters. 

The Palace Theatre and some neighbouring properties were evacuated as our firefighters extinguished the fire.

Four crews of firefighters worked quickly this evening to stop a garage fire spreading to a house in Horndon-on-the-Hill.

The 10 metre by five metre garage, which was used a workshop, was unfortunately destroyed by the fire, including all of the tools inside.

Crews from Basildon, Rayleigh Weir and Grays were called to the property at 7.50pm and the found the garage 100 percent alight.