Fire in pizza takeaway restaurant

Firefighters were called to a fire in a pizza takeaway restaurant in Stanway this morning. The fire was contained to the building and nobody was injured.

Two crews were called to Peartree Road, Stanway at 9:09am to reports of a fire in a kitchen. 

Crews worked to put the fire out and prevent it spreading to neighbouring units. 

An investigation carried out to determine the cause of the fire found it was caused by an electrical fault in a fridge. 

Firefighters issue warning after cigarette starts flat fire

A ground floor flat in Harlow has been left badly damaged following a fire early this morning (Tuesday 30 September).

The occupant had gone onto her balcony for a cigarette at around 2am before returning to bed. A short time later, neighbours spotted smoke and flames coming from the flat and quickly raised the alarm. Thankfully, they were able to wake the occupant and she left the property safely.

Five families homeless after fire

Five families have been made homeless after a fire in Stapleford Abbots this morning. 

Firefighters were called to a fire in Stapleford Abbots this morning, when crews arrived they found a fire which had spread from a shed to three buildings. 

Incident Commander Howard Midwood said: "Crews have worked hard with poor water supplies to the site to extinguish the fire quickly and stop it from spreading. Unfortunately five families have been made temporarily homeless to due to the fire and smoke damage to their properties. 

Colchester Middlewick Ranges fire

Firefighters have tonight responded to another fire at Middlewick Ranges in Colchester. 

Crews were called at 7.36pm this evening (22 September) to reports of grass and shrubland alight at Middlewick Ranges, near the Speedwell Road area of the city.

Speaking from the scene after the fire was extinguished, Station Commander Nick Singleton said: "We’ve been to Middlewick Ranges quite a few times in recent days.

Middlewick Ranges fire

Firefighters tonight tackled a blaze at Middlewick Ranges in Colchester.

We were called at 8:41pm to reports of a fire in the Speedwell Road area.

On arrival, firefighters found two areas affected by the fire, each around 25m by 25m.

Crews from Colchester, West Mersea and Coggeshall attended and quickly brought the incident under control.

Parrot rescued from tree

Firefighters swooped in to rescue Peggy the parrot in Witham today after she decided to wing it on her very first flight and found herself stuck up a tree.

Specially trained animal rescue crews were called to Webb Court, Witham at 10:15am after residents were unable to coax Peggy down. 

“Let’s squawk about it,” crews said and used an Aerial Ladder Platform to reach Peggy safely and reunite her with her owner by 11:39am.