Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms at home after a family was alerted to a kitchen fire in Rayleigh yesterday. 

Crews from Rayleigh and Leigh were called to Weir Gardens, Rayleigh at 6:32pm yesterday after the family heard smoke alarms going off and quickly left the house while calling us.

On arrival, crews reported there was a pan on fire in the kitchen and worked to extinguish the fire. 

Fire crews were called to a house in Rochford this morning after a woman discovered a fire in her bedroom.

The homeowner heard a loud bang upstairs and, after noticing smoke coming from a window, immediately called 999.

Firefighters arrived quickly and found the first floor of the house heavily smoke-logged.

Watch Manager Gary Shinn from Hawkwell Fire Station said:

“We believe the fire was caused when heat from the log burner’s flue ignited the floor joists, which then spread to a wardrobe and other nearby materials.

Crews were called to a house in Waltham Abbey after a neighbour heard the smoke alarm and called 999. 

On arrival firefighters reported smoke was coming from the kitchen window and a woman was just inside the door. Firefighters quickly led the woman to safety and entered the property. 

Crews tackled the fire, which has started after a toaster caught fire, and then cleared the property of smoke. 

Temporary Crew Manager Dan Pond said:

Firefighters were called to a fire in a fish and chip shop in Ingatestone last night (Friday 4 October).

Firefighters were called to Gainsborough Avenue, Tilbury this morning after a tumble dryer set alight and spread to five outbuildings. 

Station Manager Jason Gould said: “When crews arrived they found a well developed fire which had spread to five outbuildings. This was also starting to spread to a nearby house but the quick actions of crews stopped it from spreading further. 

“Unfortunately the outbuildings have been severely fire damaged.” 

A fire investigation has found that the cause was an electrical fault in the tumble dyer.