Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision involving two vehicles.

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

The casualty was released by 3:30pm and left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

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Saffron Walden 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 were called to reports of a fire on the balcony of a first floor flat after passers by noticed smoke.

A family of four escaped the property safely after being alerted by neighbours, but did not have a working smoke alarm.

The fire was extinguished by 9.41pm.

Dan Evison, Watch Manager at Southend Fire Station, said: "This family were lucky that their neighbours made them aware of the fire on their balcony - without working smoke alarms, the fire could easily have developed much more before they noticed.

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision involving a car and a HGV in Basildon this afternooon (Thursday 15 April).

Fire crews worked with paramedics to help release one casualty.

The casualty was released by 5pm and left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters were called to a tractor fire in Colchester Road, West Mersea this afternoon.

On arrival, crews reported that a large tractor was 100% alight and worked to extinguish the fire by 4:06pm.

During the incident, approximately 2000 litres of mixed solution containing chemicals to spray crops was spilled onto the floor. Firefighters worked with Fire Service Scientific Advisors and the Environment Agency for advice on cleaning the solution and the scene was left in the care of the farmer who will excavate the land. 

Firefighters were called to a property in Witham after a snake became wedged in an air vent. 

A woman in her 20s had put her adult boa constrictor into a temporary vivarium while she cleaned out its larger main vivarium. 

While it was in there the snake tried to get through an air vent and wedged itself in the hole.

When the on-call crew from Witham Fire Station arrived the snake had also wrapped itself around the lower part of the woman's arm. 

Crews were called to a house fire at a detached property in Tolleshunt Knights.

On arrival firefighters reported that both the ground and first floor were completely alight. 

Station Manager Scott Meekings said:

"Our crews have worked extremely hard in difficult conditions. Water supplies have been poor but we are working to use a nearby open water source to pump the water and help extinguish the fire."

Incident Commander Dan Kirk added:

Crews were called to a road traffic collision involving two vehicles. 

On arrival firefighters reported that one woman was trapped in her car and worked to release her by 2.32pm. 

The casualty was left in the care of the Ambulance Service. 

Crews were called to reports of multiple outbuildings alight.

On arrival firefighters reported that six timber-framed outbuildings in multiples gardens were on fire.

Incident Commander Marc Diggory said:

"Crews worked extremely hard to contain the fire and stop it from spreading further. 

"Access was difficult but firefighters extinguished the fire by 7.45pm.

"Our firefighters will stay at the scene for a while longer as they continue to dampen down the area."

Crews were called to a fire in a cottage after a passerby noticed smoke coming from the property. 

When firefighters arrived they reported that the cottage was heavily smoke logged and the first floor was completely alight. 

Watch Manager Dave Hogan, Grays Fire Station, said:

"Our firefighters worked extremely well to stop the fire spreading and protect neighbouring properties."

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 10.11pm.

The first floor has been badly fire damaged and the ground floor has been damaged by smoke and water.

Crews were called to a fire in a cottage after a passerby noticed smoke coming from the property. 

When firefighters arrived they reported that the cottage was heavily smoke logged and the first floor was completely alight. 

Watch Manager Dave Hogan, Grays Fire Station, said:

"Our firefighters worked extremely well to stop the fire spreading and protect neighbouring properties."

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 10.11pm.

The first floor has been badly fire damaged and the ground floor has been damaged by smoke and water.