Firefighters are urging people to keep their hobs clear after butane gas canister left on the hob caused an explosion in a flat. 

Crews were called to St Andrews Lane, Basildon at 8.07pm on Monday night. 

The resident had accidentally switched on the hob instead of the oven dial, and a butane gas canister which was left on top of the hob heated up causing an explosion, which blew out the window.

Firefighters from Braintree, Coggeshall, Halstead and Dunmow were called to an incident on Chaucer Crescent, Braintree this afternoon. 

On arrival, crews confirmed it was a fire on the first floor of a semi-detached property. 

Neighbours initially heard the smoke alarms sounding in the property and called 999. 

Crew Manager Paul Brazier said: "When we arrived there was a significant fire in the semi-detached house. Crews worked quickly and professionally to extinguish the fire and stop it from spreading further. 

Firefighters were called to a field fire near Stambridge Road, Rochford this afternoon. 

On arrival, four crews reported a field fire was affecting approximately eight hectares of grassland and a number of trees.

Crews worked together to surround the fire and used a Water Bowser from Corringham to shuttle water to the scene. 

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 4:55pm.

An investigation will take place to determine the cause of the fire. 

Firefighters were called to a roof fire at a school in Melbourne Road, Clacton at 1:12pm. 

On arrival, four crews reported a small section of a roof cavity was on fire and worked to extinguish the fire. 

Firefighters used an Aerial Ladder Platform to inspect hotspots in the roof. 

The fire was caused accidentally while works were being carried out on the roof.

A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: “We are aware of a fire affecting part of the White Hall Academy site, in Melbourne Road, Clacton, and are in communication with the school.

Update 7am

Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire by 1am and one crew remained overnight to monitor hotspots. 

An investigation will be carried out later today to determine the cause of the fire. 

Update 11pm

We’re in a position to scale this incident down to four crews who will continue to extinguish the last of the fire and cool the scene. 

Crews have been working to extinguish the fire in sections which had affected an area of approximately 40 metres by 15 metres. 

Firefighters are currently tackling a fire in a workshop near Benfleet Road, Benfleet. 

When crews arrived they confirmed the workshop was fully alight. 

Station Manager Steve Osborne said: "It is a fire in a workshop which used to be an old chicken shed.The fire has now been surrounded and is under control. Crews will remain to monitor and extinguish hotspots."

The cause of the fire could not be determined.

Firefighters have urged people to properly stub out their cigarettes after a farm office was destroyed in Little Bardfield last night. 

When crews from Wethersfield and Thaxted arrived, the fire was almost out due to owners tackling the fire themselves.

Firefighters used Thermal Imaging Cameras to check for hotspots and made sure the fire was properly extinguished. 

Firefighters are urging residents to keep their hobs clear after a kitchen fire in Southend today.

When crews arrived to the property it was full of smoke. The resident accidentally turned on the hob as they were leaving.  A plastic bag containing different items was left on the hob which caught fire. This included a small butane cannister which exploded, shattering the window. 

After hearing a loud bang, neighbours called 999. 

Firefighters were called to an outbuilding fire near Sparrowsend Hill, Newport this afternoon.

When crews arrived they reported that an outbuilding which was joined to the house was fully alight. The fire was also spreading to a shed and the neighbours garden. 

Crew Manager Jamie Start said: “When we got to the incident we could see the fire was well developed and starting to spread to the house, a nearby shed and the neighbours garden.