Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms after a were alerted to a bedroom fire in Hadleigh.

Crews were called to a house fire in Falbro Crescent, Hadleigh at 3:22pm.

On arrival, crews reported that an upstairs bedroom was heavily smoke logged.

Firefighters extinguished the fire and believe it was caused by a cigarette that was not properly extinguished. 

Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms after a family of four were alerted to a kitchen fire in the night in Southminster. 

Crews were called to a house fire in Woodside, Southminster at 2:47am. 

On arrival, crews reported the downstairs of the house was heavily smoke logged and found a fire in a kitchen. 

Firefighters believe the fire was caused by an electrical fault in a fridge freezer. 

A man was saved by his smoke alarm after falling asleep and setting fire to his mattress with a cigarette.

We were called to a ground floor flat in Vange Hill Drive, Basildon yesterday (Thursday 25 April) at 9.21pm after a neighbour heard the alarm.

Two crews from Basildon arrived and rescued a man who was lying on a mattress which was alight.

Watch Manager Darryl Worster said: "The occupant fell asleep while smoking and the cigarette set fire to his mattress; it produced a lot of smoke but luckily it did not set fire to the bedding.

Firefighters were called to a garden fire in Notley Road, Braintree at 1:17pm.

On arrival, three crews (Braintree, Chelmsford and Halstead) reported a shed fire had spread to a garage and requested a further crew from Dunmow.

Firefighters worked quickly to contain the fire and prevent it spreading. 

While at the scene, crews rescued four dogs who were in a kennel in a garden. 

Diesel, Flo, Gigi and Miley were unharmed during the incident and have been reunited with their owners. 

A family were alerted to a fire in their kitchen thanks to a smoke alarm.

We were called to a bungalow in Arne Court, Laindon yesterday (Monday 22 April) at 9pm and crews from Basildon and Rayleigh Weir attended.

An air fryer had caught alight in the kitchen.

Crew Manager Philippe Pitts-Webster said: "A neighbour had tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher but thick black smoke was still coming out of the front door.

"Crews extinguished the fire and cleared the smoke.

Update Tuesday 23 April 

The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental. 

Firefighters from Basildon, Chelmsford (two) and Orsett have extinguished a fire at a scrap yard near Mores Lane, Brentwood. 

Crew Manager Jason Gould said: "Crews have done a great job to surround the fire and stop it from spreading further. There were four vehicles alight including cylinders and a small outbuilding." 

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

Firefighters were called to the scene of an industrial unit fire in Gardiners Lane South, Basildon, this afternoon. 

Crews were called at 1:36pm to reports of a fire in an industrial unit. 

At its height, eight fire appliances, including a Aerial Ladder Platform, were on scene, with firefighters extinguishing the fire in sections. Firefighters worked to prevent the fire spreading to neighbouring units.