*Update 5:30pm* An investigation into the cause of the fire found it started accidentally in the chimney.

*Update 2pm* Crews remain at the scene to monitor hotspots while our Fire Investigation Officers carry out their investigation into the cause of the fire.

Our Urban Search and Rescue Team is using their specialist cameras to assist with the investigation.

*Update 7am* Crews at the scene report that the fire is now out. An investigation will be carried out to establish the cause of the fire.

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision involving a van that had left the roadway and ended up in a ditch.

Fire crews worked with paramedics to help release one casualty from the vehicle.

The casualty was rescued by 8:50pm and left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Five crews worked to extinguish a workshop fire in Clacton this afternoon.

On arrival, crews reported that a workshop was 100% alight and contained propane cylinders. 

Crews extinguished the fire just before 2pm. 

Station Manager Scott Meekings said: “Crews worked extremely hard to extinguish the fire. They have removed the cylinders and these no longer pose a hazard to the incident. Crews will remain on scene monitoring hotspots.”

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Loughton firefighters worked with London Fire Brigade and the Ambulance Service to rescue a man who had fallen on scaffolding this afternoon.

On arrival, crews reported that the man had fallen while on roof height scaffolding and worked with the Ambulance Service to safely rescue him.

Firefighters and paramedics reached the man using Tottenham’s Aerial Ladder Platform and the man was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters have issued smoking safety advice after a broken cigarette lighter caused a bedroom fire in Chelmsford this afternoon.

Crews were called to Bodmin Road in Chelmsford at 2:43pm when residents heard their smoke alarms going off and quickly got out of the house to call the Fire Service, shutting as many doors as they could on their way out. 

On arrival, crews reported that a bedroom was 100% smoke logged and worked to extinguish the fire by 3:21pm.

The fire was caused by a broken cigarette lighter that set fire to the bedding.

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision involving three vehicles on the London bound carriageway of the A127.

Fire crews worked with paramedics to help release two casualties trapped in their cars.

The casualties were released by 9am and left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

UPDATE 7PM

Firefighters have now left the scene, with the exception of one fire crew as a precaution. The Gas Board are continuing to make steady progress and police officers are managing the safety cordon.

The road will remain closed both ways for much of this evening.

UPDATE 5:30pm

Firefighters are continuing to work alongside partners to make the scene of a gas leak on the A127 safe.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a house fire in Benfleet on Saturday morning.

On arrival crews reported that a semi-detached property was completely alight and that it had begun to spread to an adjacent home.

Crews used an Aerial Ladder Platform to allow them to reach the loft area of the building more easily and tackle the fire from above.

At 7.39am, the Incident Commander advised that the fire in the first home had been extinguished, but that the fire was continuing to burn in the second property.

Firefighters assisted at the scene of a road traffic collision in Earls Colne this morning.

On arrival crews reported that one person was trapped in a vehicle following the incident. The vehicle was on its side. No other vehicles were involved.

Crews worked hard to release the casualty by 4.12am, before leaving them in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Firefighters rescued a dog, a cat and a budgie from a house fire in Tilbury this morning.

On arrival, crews confirmed that a house measuring approximately four square metres was completely smoke logged and the kitchen was alight. The home was completely smoke logged.

No-one was home at the time of the fire - firefighters were alerted after neighbours heard the smoke alarm sounding.

Paul Dibble, Crew Manager at Orsett Fire Station, said: "Crews have done brilliantly to save these animals today and prevent the incident from becoming much more serious.