Firefighters worked to extinguish 15 separate grass fires that were set deliberately alongside a railway line in Stanford-le-Hope this afternoon. 

Four crews were called to Mucking Wharf Road, Stanford-le-Hope at 3:30pm. A fifth crew from Billericay Fire Station along with an off-road vehicle was also called to help.

A series of fires had been deliberately started on grass verges alongside a railway line. Trains were stopped for one hour while crews dealt with the fire. 

Firefighters believe this fire was started deliberately. 

Firefighters were called to a garden fire in Baddow Road, Chelmsford at 12:51pm. 

On arrival, two crews from Chelmsford reported a garden fire was affecting two sheds, a number of fence panels and the outside of a house. 

Firefighters worked to prevent the fire spreading and extinguished it by 1:38pm. 

Crews believe the fire was caused when glass bottles in the garden heated up in the sun. 

Two sheds and a number of fence panels were badly damaged and the exterior of a house was damaged. 

Firefighters rescued Sophie, a 35-year-old horse, after she was struggling to get up in a field in Romford. 

Specially trained animal rescue crews were called to the scene at 5:05pm and got to work moving Sophie so she could be lifted up using our animal rescue hi-ab.

Crews worked alongside a vet using the hi-ab to help Sophie back on her feet by 7:30pm. 

Firefighters were called to a field fire near Godman Road in Chadwell St Mary at 4:35pm. 

On arrival, crews reported an area of approximately 150 metres by 30 metres of crop and bushes was on fire. 

Six crews and two off-road vehicles from Billericay and Hawkell worked alongside local farmers to create a fire break and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby garages and surrounding fields.

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 6:05pm. The cause of the fire could not be determined. 

Firefighters rescued a woman and two dogs after they fell from a cliff edge near Heron Way, Thurrock when walking. 

Crews were called to the scene at 7:17pm and worked alongside ambulance and police colleagues to rescue the woman. 

Five crews worked together with paramedics to cut down brambles and debris to reach the woman and safely rescue her using a stretcher. She was left in the care of the Ambulance Service. 

Crews also worked to rescue two dogs at the scene. 

Firefighters worked to make the scene safe before leaving at midnight.

Firefighters have been working to extinguish a fire affecting two properties in Generals Lane, Boreham this evening. 

Four crews worked to extinguish the fire affecting two properties and worked to prevent it spreading to other buildings in the area.

Both buildings were badly damaged in the fire. 

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

Three crews currently remain at the scene monitoring hotspots and cooling the scene.

Update 4:30pm

Crews have extinguished the fire in Beach Way, Clacton. 

One crew will remain on scene dampening the area and monitoring hotspots. 

Three houses have been badly damaged in the fire and seven other properties have been left with smoke and heat damage.

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

Station Manager Karl Amoss said: “Thank you to everyone for your patience while we have been dealing with this incident. 

An Essex Police statement below reads:

Officers have quickly arrested a man after being called to reports of a fire in South Woodham Ferrers this afternoon (Wednesday 7 August)

We attended the incident in Treebeard Copse at 5.30pm along with our Essex County Fire and Rescue Service colleagues.

Officers worked at pace and within two hours they arrested a 34-year-old man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. He is currently in custody.

Crews extinguished a kitchen fire in Halstead.

We were called to Stanley Road today (7 August) at 7.32am and crews from Halstead and Sible Hedingham attended.

They found a well-developed fire in the ground floor kitchen of a mid-terrace house.

Station Manager Lee Hurst said: "The initial crews did a great job of containing the fire and stopping it from spreading to adjoining properties.

"Crews were at the scene into the morning to make sure it was fully extinguished and to check the loft and roof for hotspots."

Crews extinguished a field fire in Braintree.

We were called to Convent Lane today at 5.04pm and crews from Colchester, Halstead, Tollesbury and Dunmow attended.

Approximately 200 metres by 150 metres (two hectares) of a field of cut grass were alight.

Residents in the area were advised to keep their doors and windows closed due to the smoke.

The fire was extinguished by 6.18pm and the final crew left the scene at 9.36pm. The cause is undetermined.