Firefighters were called a road traffic collision in Westcliff earlier this evening.

On arrival, crews reported that a man was trapped in his vehicle and worked to release him by 7pm.

He was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Have you downloaded what3words?

DISCREPANCY.LIBRARIAN.ANGEL were the three words from the smartphone app what3words that led our firefighters to a horse who was trapped in the River Stort in Harlow.

Crews were called by a passing member of the public to a horse who was trapped in the river two miles from the nearest road. Our Control Room team advised the caller to download what3words, a free smartphone app that can quickly and easy give an accurate location.

A crew from Colchester was called to rescue a swan that was trapped in a frozen lake earlier today.

Firefighters reported that the swan, which had been trapped in the ice for several hours, was weak and unable to move.

Using a water rescue path and a sled, firefighters ventured across the lake alongside a team from the RSPCA to rescue the swan and bring it back to safety.

The swan was left in the care of the RSPCA.

Firefighters were called to a shop fire in Harlow earlier today.

On arrival, crews reported that smoke was coming from the ceiling and put a cordon in place outside of the shop while locating the source of the fire.

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 11:44am and recorded the cause as accidental.

Firefighters rescued a man after a road traffic collision involving a van in Harlow.

Crews from Harlow and Old Harlow attended Matching Road today at 6.17pm.

A man in his thirties was trapped in a van which was on its side.

Crews removed the windscreen and freed the casualty, who had sustained minor injuries, and left him in the care of the Ambulance Service at 6.46pm.

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Firefighters were called to a fire at a bulk liquid storage business in Grays this morning (Thursday 21 January).

When fire crews arrived at the incident they reported an external diesel pump was involved in the fire.

Firefighters used foam to pour over the fire to smother it. Crews also worked with with on-site staff to isolate the diesel pump and remove as much excess diesel from the tank as possible.

The fire was found to have started accidentally.

Crews have issued safety advice after a fire in a first floor flat.

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire in Cossington Road, Westcliff today at 3.38am.

The occupants, a couple, were out of the property when crews arrived and they evacuated the other flats in the building as a precaution. 

Watch Manager Dan Hart said: "The fire had started in a back bedroom and smoke was coming from a front window and a rear window.

Crews extinguished a fire at a house in Colchester.

Firefighters were called to a semi-detached house in St Andrews Avenue today at 6.04pm and found a fire in a first floor bedroom.

The occupants, a couple with a young child, were safely out of the property when crews arrived and have been praised for their actions.

Station Manager Danny Partridge said: "Crews, including two firefighters who recently completed their training, were faced with a severe fire in the bedroom.

Firefighters issued safety advice on Saturday night after being called to a fire involving a wood burner in a house in Colchester.

Crews confirmed on arrival that a fire in a wood burner had grown out of control, with four people leaving the property for their own safety.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by 9.33pm. Fortunately, the damage was contained to the wood burner and chimney area of the property. No-one was harmed.

Firefighters have urged people to avoid cooking while tired, after a couple in Thurrock fell asleep in the early hours of Sunday morning with food on their stove.

Smoke from the fire in the ground floor flat was spotted by a passer-by, who was unable to wake the couple but alerted the fire service.

Crews gained entry to the property and extinguished the fire by 4.10am. Fortunately, no-one was harmed. The kitchen has suffered from smoke damage.