Firefighters were called by a concerned resident after they spotted a man stuck in a reed bed in a lake in Fingrighhoe.

The man had become stuck after he wandered out to the reed bed, but when the sun set he could not see a safe route to get back.

Firefighters specially trained in water rescues waded out to rescue the man. The man was checked over by the Ambulance Service but was luckily not injured.

Firefighters rescued a man and woman after road traffic collision involving two vehicles.

Crews from Colchester and Wivenhoe were called by Essex Police to Mersea Road, Colchester last night (Tuesday 30 March) at 8.18pm.

A man was trapped in one vehicle and a woman was trapped in the other.

Firefighters used specialist lifting and cutting equipment to release the casualties by 9.33pm and left them in the care of the Ambulance Service. 

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Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms after a tumble dryer fire in Shoeburyness.

A resident was in her garden when she noticed smoke coming from the conservatory which later set her smoke alarms off.

She acted quickly to shut the conservatory door, get out of the house and call the Fire Service out.

When crews arrived, the conservatory was smoke logged and firefighters extinguished the fire by 12:33pm.

Crews have issued safety advice after an unattended tea light caused a house fire.

Firefighters were called to a property in Raphael Drive, Chelmsford yesterday (Thursday 1 April) at 6.53pm.

The two-storey house was unoccupied but thankfully a neighbour spotted the fire and called 999.

Watch Manager Gavin Ellis said: "The lounge was 50% alight and the rest of the house had filled with smoke when we arrived, but crews did a really good job of limiting the damage.

Firefighters rescued a women from a fast flowing river in Loughton yesterday (Monday 8 March).

Crew Manager Glenn Jackson, Loughton Fire Station, said:

"The woman was walking her dog along the river when the dog jumped in the water. The woman got in the water to try and reach her dog but got into trouble and couldn't reach the dog or get herself out again.

Firefighters were called to a bin lorry fire in Clarence Road, Rayleigh just before 10am this morning.

On arrival, crews reported that a bin lorry containing mixed recycling was heavily smoke logged and worked to remove the recycling to extinguish the fire by 10:30am.

Firefighters believe the fire was caused by discarded batteries.

Watch Manager Wayne Davey from Rayleigh Fire Station said ”Crews worked quickly to extinguish the fire before it engulfed the appliance which would have caused a significant amount of costly damage both to the appliance and the road."

Crews were called by the Ambulance Service after reports of a road traffic collision between two vehicles. 

On arrival, firefighters reported that one female was trapped in her car and worked to remove the vehicle's roof and release her. 

The casualty was left in the care of the Ambulance Service at 12.15pm.

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A man and his dog were rescued from a bungalow fire in Clacton last night (Saturday 13 March).

Crews were called to the property in Southwold Way, Clacton, and told there may be someone trapped inside. 

On arrival, firefighters quickly began searching inside the property, although were then told by neighbours that the resident, an elderly man, and his dog, had been rescued by a neighbour soon after the 999 call. 

Firefighters were called to a fire in a derelict building in Canvey this afternoon (Tuesday 16 March).

When fire crews arrived they reported that the building, which measured approximately 20m x 30m, was smoking heavily from the roof space.

Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform (which is an extendable platform that enables firefighters to pour water on the fire from above) to extinguish the fire by 5:37pm.

An investigation into the cause of the fire was carried out and recorded as undetermined.

Crews were called to a derelict retail store this afternoon, following reports of a fire. 

On arrival, firefighters reported that the building, which measures around 100m x 30m, was 50% smoke logged and the fire had broken through the roof. 

At 6.30pm Station Manager Scott Meekings said:

"Crews have worked hard to contain the fire and bring it under control. They will now continue searching the building for any further hotspots.

"We expect crews to be on scene for some time until we can be certain the area is completely cooled."