Crews extinguished a thatch roof fire in Rayne.

We were called to Long Lane on Saturday (26 April) at 10.54pm where the thatched roof of a two-storey building measuring 15 metres by 10 metres was 50% alight.

At the height of the incident, nine crews - from Braintree, Chelmsford (two), Great Dunmow, Halstead, Maldon, Thaxted, Tiptree and Wethersfield - were in attendance, along with an Incident Command Unit from Witham and a Water Bowser, to supply large volumes of water, from Halstead.

Crews have issued safety advice after a barbecue caused a fire in Chelmsford. 

We were called to Epping Close at 6.32pm and two crews from Chelmsford attended.

A fire had started in the garden of a two-storey house, but thankfully the occupants were alerted by a smoke alarm.

Watch Manager Mark Curtis said: "The barbecue was unattended and fell over, setting fire to some old bedding.

"It scorched the back windows and burnt the waste pipes, but thankfully the occupants were alerted and crews were on the scene quickly to extinguish it."

Firefighters were called to a ground floor flat fire on Rayleigh Road, Southend last night (Wednesday 23 April). 

When crews arrived, they reported the flat on the ground floor flat was full of smoke. The fire had spread from the ground floor to the first floor.

Two people were rescued, one of which was treated for smoke inhalation. 

Firefighters from Billericay, Brentwood, Basildon, Wickford, and Corringham were called to a garage fire on Monday 21 April near Hunters Chase, Brentwood.

When crews arrived they found a fire which has started in the garage and had spread to three cars, a summer house, a shed and the fence. 

Firefighters are urging smokers to discard of smoking materials properly after a discarded cigarette caused a fire in a sheltered accommodation this morning. 

Crews from Southend were initially called to an automatic fire alarm near Maple Square, Southend. 

When firefighters entered the property they discovered a fire in one of the flats and rescued one person. 

The resident was smoking and the cigarette had fallen down the side of their armchair. 

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having smoke alarms after we were called to a kitchen fire by neighbours who heard smoke alarms going off. 

Crews were called to a kitchen fire in Lexden Road, Colchester at 2.28pm today. 

The neighbours heard smoke alarms going off and called 999 when they could see black smoke in the kitchen windows. 

When firefighters arrived they found a fire in the kitchen. The resident has accidentally switched the hob on and items left on top had caught alight.