Firefighters would like to praise a neighbour who acted quickly when noticing a kitchen fire in Colchester earlier today. 

Crews were called to Propelair Way, Colchester at 1:12pm to reports of a flat fire. 

A man had spotted smoke coming from his neighbour’s flat and acted quickly to dial 999 and then help his neighbour and her baby safely escape the flat. 

On arrival, crews reported the flat was heavily smoke logged and found a pan on fire in the kitchen. 

Crews have extinguished a lorry fire on the M11.

We were called to the southbound carriageway, between junctions 9 (Saffron Walden) and 8 (Bishop's Stortford), today at 8.01pm.

Crews from Newport, Saffron Walden (two) and Stansted extinguished a fire affecting a lorry trailer containing approximately 25 tonnes of beer by 9.03pm.

The road is likely to remain closed into the evening, between junctions 9 and 8, while the trailer is removed.

Firefighters are asking smokers to make sure cigarettes are properly stubbed out after a discarded cigarette caused a garden fire in Chelmsford earlier today. 

Crews were called to a garden fire in Church Avenue, Broomfield at 1:20pm.

On arrival, crews reported garden furniture in the garden was 100% alight and worked to prevent the fire spreading to a house. 

Crews believe the fire was caused by a discarded cigarette.

Crews extinguished a wildfire in South Woodham Ferrers.

We were called to Creekview Road at 7.04pm and crews from South Woodham Ferrers, Burnham, Rayleigh Weir and Wickford attended, along with Burnham's Off Road Vehicle.

Approximately 3.5 acres of grassland along a river bank was alight and the high winds were fanning the flames.

Crews used light portable pumps, backpack sprayers and beaters to extinguish the fire by 8.25pm. They remained at the scene to dampen down until 9.30pm.

Crews have extinguished a caravan fire in Ingatestone.

We were called to Stock Road today (Tuesday 1 April) at 9.28pm and crews found a static caravan, measuring approximately 8 metres by 4 metres, completely alight.

Crews from Chelmsford (two), Ingatestone and Brentwood attended and extinguished the fire by 10.25pm. The caravan interior was completely destroyed.

Watch Manager Brett Sheridan said: "Crews were faced with a limited water supply and worked hard to extinguish the fire quickly.

UPDATE 10PM

Crews have now left the scene.

UPDATE 8.30PM

The haystack is being allowed to burn under supervision from firefighters. A crew will remain at the scene as a precaution until it is safe to leave the scene with the owner. 

Firefighters from Wethersfield, Halstead, Braintree and Dunmow were called to a large haystack fire today at Bluegate Hall Farm, Braintree. 

On arrival, crews confirmed it was approximately 100 tonnes of hay alight.

Crews extinguished a garage fire in Chelmsford.

We were called to Rembrandt Grove today at 6.23pm and crews from Chelmsford (two), Great Baddow and Witham attended.

The garage was completely alight when crews arrived.

Station Manager John Warmann said: "The fire had started to affect the houses either side and crews did a fantastic job in stopping it spreading. Although the garage was destroyed, the houses only suffered slight smoke damage.

Crews extinguished a fire affecting three flats in Clacton.

We were called to Ellis Road today (Monday 31 March) at 3.36pm after a resident saw smoke coming from a first floor flat.

Crews from Clacton, Weeley, Frinton, Colchester, Tollesbury and Colchester's Aerial Ladder Platform attended.

Station Manager Ryan Ainger said: "Crews were faced with a developing fire which had spread to the voids in wall spaces and the ceiling.