Our firefighters are urging people to test their smoke alarms, following an incident in Witham today.

Crews were called to a third floor flat in Silver End at 11am after the resident noticed a burning smell coming from their washing machine.

They switched it off. Firefighters removed the washing machine and made the property safe.

While on scene, crews carried out a home safety check and discovered that the smoke alarms in the flat were not working. New smoke alarms were fitted before they left.

Update at 9.30pm:

Firefighters extinguished the fire at 6.15pm, although crews are returning over night to dampen down the area and check for hot spots.

Our firefighters are dealing with an agricultural vehicle fire in a field off Church Road, West Tilbury.

The fire has affected power cables and some homes nearby may be experiencing power outages.

We are working with UK Power Networks. 

Firefighters from Thaxted, Wethersfield, Dunmow and Newport tackled a combine harvester on fire last night near Holders Green Road, Thaxted. 

When crews arrived to the incident they found a combine harvester in a field of stubble crop fully alight. 

While the crews worked to extinguish the fire, the farmer ploughed around the area to create a fire break to stop the fire from spreading. 

Firefighters believe that the fire was caused accidentally, due to the machine overheating. 

Residents in a block of flats were alerted to a fire thanks to a smoke alarm. 

Firefighters were called to a flat fire on the fourth floor in Great Oaks, Basildon at 5.59pm today. Crews from Basildon (two), Rayleigh and Orsett attended. 

The resident had gone out after accidentally switching on the hob, causing items on top to catch alight. 

Crews dealt with a number of field fires across Essex yesterday. 

Our Control team has been busy dealing with calls and maintaining fire cover across the county as the warm weather continues. 

Yesterday (Friday 18 July) firefighters tackled three large field fires. 

Crews were called to 15 hectares of standing crop alight in Stifford Clays, Grays at 9.53am. 

Update 6pm 

Group Manager Marc Diggory said: "Crews have worked hard to extinguish the fire and stop it from spreading to nearby properties. We're in a position now to downscale the incident. Crews will remain at the scene for the next few hours to dampen down hotspots. We're looking to lift road closures soon." 

The fire spread to one out building. No one has been injured. 

Firefighters from Clacton rescued Rosie the Beagle after she became lost in the woods this afternoon. 

Crews were called to Brook Country Park, Clacton today after Rosie decided to chase a deer into the woods. 

Station Manager Quentin Sage said: "Crews searched the area which was about 200m by 50m, with a stream running through the centre. After about 45 minutes of searching we heard barking and were able to find Rosie, and reunite her with her owner."