Firefighters are highlighting the importance of working smoke alarms after attending a flat fire where there were no working smoke alarms.

Crews were called to a flat fire in Nayland Road, Colchester at 10:43pm last night.

On arrival, firefighters reported there was a fire in a kitchen of a first floor flat. 

Firefighters extinguished the fire and believe it was caused by a tumble dryer. 

The kitchen was badly fire damaged and the flat was heavily smoke logged leaving it uninhabitable. 

Update 8:30am 

Station Manager Mark Elliot said: "Crews have done a great job this morning at working quickly and efficiently to extinguish the fire and clear the smoke in the adjacent unit. I'd also like to say a big thank you to our Control Room team that directed us to the right incident quickly as the initial reports were to a different location.

"A fire investigation has been completed and the cause has been found as accidental." 

Six crews have worked to extinguish a workshop fire in Thurrock this evening. 

When crews arrived they reported that the workshop, which measured approximately 15m x 10m, was completely alight.

Firefighters worked hard to tackle the fire and stop it spreading. A number of vehicles have been destroyed by the fire. 

Firefighters will remain on scene to dampen down hotspots. 

The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental. 

Firefighters rescued a person whose flat had filled with smoke after they fell asleep while cooking.

Crews from Basildon were called to a flat near Blackmores, Laindon today at 12.25am, after a neighbour heard a smoke alarm sounding. 

Watch Manager Mark Blakebrough said: "The resident had left a pan with some oil on the cooker and fallen asleep, causing the flat to fill with smoke.

"Crews had to force entry and get the person out of the flat. Unfortunately, they suffered with smoke inhalation.

Firefighters from Tiptree and Leigh extinguished a vehicle fire caused by a jump start. 

Crews were called to Talisman Close, Tiptree at 3.39pm on Tuesday after reports of a vehicle fire. 

The fire spread around the vehicle being jump started, including two other vehicles. 

Station Manager Terry Maher said: “While it’s not uncommon for people to jump start their cars, you need to be really careful and have good knowledge about how to do it properly.

Firefighters were called to reports of smoke coming from a first floor flat in Wickford.

When crews arrived they reported that the flat and roof space was full of smoke. The flat was on the first floor above a restaurant.

Watch Manager Finbar Tubby said: "The fire which started in the bedroom had spread through to the loft space and into the next property. Crews did a great job to stop it from spreading further. 

Firefighters were called to rescue two people trapped in floodwater near Sporhams Lane, Bicknacre this afternoon. 

The caller used what3words to direct our control room to the incident. The words were standards.loosed.awestruck.

Specially trained water rescue firefighters worked to rescue two people by 2pm. 

Station Manager Jason Gould said: “We’ve been receiving many calls into our Control Room about flooded roads and cars which need recovering.