Crews responded to a house in Wharf Close, Stanford-le-Hope, this morning after residents noticed smoke coming from their kitchen and called 999.

Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a kitchen fire and smoke throughout the house. They quickly extinguished the fire, which had started from a pan left on the hob, and ventilated the property to clear the smoke.

The family received treatment at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Watch Manager Ben Stapleton said:

Crews have extinguished a fire affecting a derelict building in South Ockenden.

We were called to Daiglen Drive today (6 November) at 1.20am and two crews from Grays initially attended. 

They found a boarded-up two-storey pub, measuring approximately 20 by 30 metres, was about 60% alight.

A further two crews, from Orsett and Corringham, and an aerial ladder platform, from Southend, were requested.

Crews have praised a neighbour who called 999 after hearing a smoke alarm in Basildon today.

We were called to Wells Gardens at 10.43am and crews from Basildon, Rayleigh Weir and Orsett attended.

Watch Manager Marc Kyprianou said: "The neighbour went to investigate after hearing the alarm, saw black smoke coming from the property and called 999.

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered and found a pan on the hob, which had inadvertently been left on by the occupant who had left the property. 

Crews extinguished a fire affecting an outbuilding in Wethersfield.

We were called to Mumfords Hill today at 6.13pm and crews from Wethersfield and Halstead initially attended.

They found an outbuilding, measuring approximately 10 metres by 8 metres, around 80% alight.

Two further crews, from Braintree and Coggeshall, were requested due to the isolated location and lack of good water supply.

Update Wednesday 30 October 

A fire investigation has found that the fire was started accidentally. The resident accidentally turned on the hob, which caused the items on top to set alight. 

Hob and cooker top tips: