Firefighters waded into the water today to rescue a calf that was tangled in the undergrowth of the River Stour in Dedham.

Swift Water Rescue trained firefighters from Colchester and our Animal Rescue Unit from Chelmsford were called to rescue the calf after it had gone for a dip and was unable to get back out.

Firefighters were able to cut away at tree branches under the water to free the calf and lead it to safety by 10:20am.

The calf was left in the care of a farmer.

Firefighters were called to a fire in a metal recycling building in Chelmsford this morning (Tuesday 11 May).

The fire service's Control team took over 15 calls to the incident, as the smoke could be seen from nearby main roads.

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision involving two vehicles on the A12 between junction 24-25 (Kelvedon to Marks Tey).

Fire crews worked with paramedics to help rescue one casualty trapped in their vehicle.

The casualty was released by 12:55pm and left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Crews extinguished a garage fire in Chadwell St Mary this morning.

Three crews, from Orsett, Grays and Corringham, attended River View at 3.56am and found a garage at the rear of the property completely alight.

The fire spread quickly due to books, tools, clothes and flammable liquids, such as paint thinners, varnish and creosote, being stored in the garage.

Crews worked hard to completely extinguish the fire by 5.20am.

The cause has been recorded as accidental; it is believed an electrical appliance overheated.

Firefighters freed two casualties following a road traffic collision in Manningtree today.

We were called by Essex Police to a collision involving a single vehicle in the town's High Street at 11.42am.

Crews from Manningtree and Colchester attended and found two people trapped in a 4x4. 

They used specialist equipment, including electric saws and hydraulic lifting equipment, to free the casualties at 12.38pm and left them in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Firefighters were called to a road traffic collision on Walden Road in Little Chesterfield earlier today.

On arrival, crews reported that two vehicles had collided and one person was trapped.

Crews rescued the person by 7:56pm and they were left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Saffron Walden’s firefighters are on-call firefighters who all live or work within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station and are paid to protect their community. 

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms after residents were alerted to a fire in their home when they heard their smoke alarms going off.

On-call firefighters from Stansted and Dunmow were called to a tumble dryer fire in Takely just before 4:30pm.

On arrival. crews reported that a tumble dryer was on fire and extinguished it by 5:43pm.

A family of six was rendered homeless due to the smoke and fire damage to their home.

Firefighters believe the fire was caused by an electrical fault.

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of putting cigarettes out properly after a shed and fences caught fire this evening.

A crew from Brentwood was called to Pilgrims Hatch at 6:05pm and reported that a shed and several fence panels were alight. 

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 6:16pm.

Watch Manager Jason Hayward said: “Luckily, the resident was still in the garden after smoking and acted quickly to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.

Firefighters were called to a barbecue fire in Braintree earlier this evening. 

On arrival, crews reported that a gas barbecue was on fire and had spread to the gas cylinder. 

Firefighters allowed the gas to vent off while tackling the fire with water until it was  extinguished by 7:53pm.

Firefighters were called to a garden fire in Rochford earlier today after embers from a chiminea spread to two outbuildings and fence panels.

On arrival, crews reported that two outbuildings were 100% alight and the fire had spread to fence panels.

Crews extinguished the fire by 4:32pm.

Garden fires - don't take the risk!

If you're planning on having a fire in your garden, remember to follow our advice: