Firefighters were called to a collapsed building in the early hours of this morning following an explosion inside.

Crews arrived at the scene at 1.50am to find a brick building, measuring approximately 5m x 5m, which had collapsed. The building was used for waste water pumping.

Firefighters worked quickly to make the area safe and used a thermal imaging camera to help search for any casualties. Bailey, the Live Scent Dog, also assisted with the search. Thankfully, no casualties were found.

Firefighters were called to a home in Basildon following a kitchen fire caused by cooking on the hob.

Crews found that the fire had spread to the kitchen’s extractor hood, which was damaged by fire. Before calling 999, the occupant acted quickly by removing the pan from the hob and closing the kitchen door, helping to contain the fire.

When crews arrived, they inspected the extractor hood using a thermal imaging camera to make sure the fire was fully extinguished. They also ventilated smoke from a first-floor bedroom located above the kitchen.

A man was lucky to escape after a log burner caused a fire at his bungalow in Abridge.

We were called to Pancroft today (4 December) at 2.53am and crews from Loughton, Harlow (two) and Hainault (London Fire Brigade) attended.

The occupant was woken by what he thought was the sound of rain, but when he opened his bedroom door he was met with smoke.

He managed to get out and raise the alarm.

Crews have issued safety advice after a candle started a kitchen fire in a flat in Harlow.

We were called to an eighth floor property in Willowfield today at 1.59pm.

Crews from Harlow and Old Harlow attended and extinguished a small fire in a kitchen by 2.25pm.

Crew Manager Catherine Smith said: "A candle left unattended had set fire to plastic items on the worktop.

"Thankfully the occupant did the right thing when they noticed the fire, they got out, called 999 and stayed out.

Firefighters from Wethersfield, Thaxted and Saffron Walden were called to a garage on fire in the early hours of this morning. 

Watch Manager Darren Hockley said: “When we arrived to the scene we could see the whole wooden garage was completely alight and the fire was starting to move towards the neighbouring property. Crews did a great job and worked quickly to stop it from spreading.

“The owner woke up to a loud bang, looked outside and saw the fire. They did the right thing by alerting their neighbours and calling 999.