Crews have issued safety advice after an unattended candle caused a bedroom fire.

The occupants were alerted by a smoke alarm to the fire, at the house in Holly Road, Stanway, today at 4.08pm.

The fire was out when firefighters arrived. They made sure it was fully extinguished and issued safety advice.

Watch Manager Gary Clarke said: "The candle set fire to a pillow, spread to an extension lead and caused smoke and fire damage to the rest of the bedroom.

"The incident shows the importance of never leaving candles and tea lights unattended.

Crews rescued three men and extinguished a house fire in Grays.

Firefighters were called to Seabrooke Rise today at 4.25am after neighbours saw smoke coming from a property.

A man, who was suffering from smoke inhalation, was trying to get out of the first floor maisonette when crews arrived, but two men were still trapped in a bedroom. 

Control Officers were on the phone to one of the men throughout; giving him life-saving advice, reassuring him that crews were on the way and helping to direct firefighters to their location. 

Firefighters have issued advice to residents after we were called to two separate chimney fires last night – one in Little Bardfield and another in Asheldham. 

Fortunately, both fires were extinguished quickly and nobody was harmed.

The latest statistics show that there are approximately 7,000 chimney fires a year in England, but most of these can be prevented.

Experienced firefighter, Nick Singleton, said: "To keep yourself and your family safe from fire you should have your chimney swept regularly – at least once a year.

Firefighters rescued a man following a road traffic collision on the A120 near Marks Tey.

Crews were called today at 2.57pm and on arrival reported a man was trapped in his car.

Firefighters used specialist cutting equipment to free him by 3.45pm and he was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Crews also contained a diesel spill and stopped it entering a drain.

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Firefighters have given safety advice about what to do if you have an oil fire following a chip pan fire in Wickford last night.

Crews were called to a kitchen fire in Jersey Gardens, Wickford at 9:42pm.

On arrival, crews reported that a chip pan was on fire and had spread to the kitchen curtains.

Crews extinguished the fire by 10:22pm.

A man was left in the care of the Ambulance Service after suffering smoke inhalation.

Firefighters from Basildon Fire Station fitted two smoke alarms at the property as there were no working smoke alarms inside.

Firefighters have given safety advice for residents who use log burners and open fires at home after a chimney fire in Shoeburyness yesterday.

A crew from Shoeburyness was called to Ness Road, Shoebury at 2:21pm to reports of a chimney fire.

Crews used chimney rods and a stirrup pump to help them extinguish the fire by 3pm.

Firefighters fitted three smoke alarms while at the property as there were no working smoke alarms in the home.

Update: 

An investigation into the cause of the gas explosion found it was accidental. 

The Fire Service recommends residents recognise the importance of gas safety:

Firefighters have given safety advice after a bonfire spread out of control and damaged three trees.

A crew from Waltham Abbey were called to the garden of a house in Loughton at 12.30pm and extinguished the fire by 12.58pm.

Crew Manager Mav Langdon from Waltham Abbey Fire Station said: “This was a small fire that had got out of control and caused damage to some nearby trees which were close to the house.

Crews rescued and revived a man from a house fire in Chadwell St Mary.

Firefighters from Orsett and Grays attended Bowerman Road today at 2.24am and found the first floor of a two-storey house was 50% alight.

A neighbour had raised the alarm and reported that the occupant might still be inside.

Firefighters found a man in his seventies who was unconscious and not breathing.

Station Manager Mark Elliott said: "We received good information from the caller that someone might be inside, so firefighters got into the building quickly.

Firefighters were called to a property in Thurrock earlier today, when passers-by alerted a resident to a fire at the rear of their home.

Crews were called to Blackshots Lane, Grays, at 11:14am, after a young male was made aware of a fire at the back of his home by passers-by.

On arrival, firefighters confirmed there was a fire at the rear of the property. The fire had started outside and quickly spread to the rear door and fascias, and had started to spread into the kitchen which was heavily smoke-logged.