Firefighters rescued eight ducklings after they got trapped in a drain in Walton on the Naze today. 

We were called to Kirby Road, Walton on the Naze at 7.22am after a passer-by heard quacking coming from a drain. 

Station Manager Ryan Ainger said: "When I arrived to make the initial assessment of the incident the drain cover was wedged in. Crews from Frinton arrived and we were able to remove the drain cover and scoop out the eight ducklings. 

"We were delighted to be able to re-unite them with their mother." 

Update at 7am on Wednesday 2 July

Crews remained on scene overnight. Relief crews will be taking over this morning. 

Firefighters from Coggeshall, Braintree, Halstead and Wethersfield are currently tacking a wood pile which is fully alight in Bradwell. 

Crews are using a water bowser from Halstead to supply large amounts of water to the incident. 

Firefighters will be carrying out a control burn until the scene is safe to hand back over to the owner. 

Firefighters had a busy afternoon dealing with a fire on Foulness Island today.

Crews were called at just after 2.15pm following reports of a grass fire along the sea wall, stretching approx 100 metres.

Thanks to the efforts of our firefighters the fire was contained. Crews remain on the scene this evening dampening down and monitoring for hotspots.

Firefighters from Dunmow, Newport, Brentwood and Saffron Walden were called to a light aircraft crash in Stebbing this afternoon. 

On arrival, crews worked with Police, Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance Service to help one casualty out of the aircraft and make the scene safe.

Station Manager Scott Fretton said: "Crews assisted our emergency services colleagues with the casualty. They used an off road vehicle to dampen down the area around the aircraft as there was a risk it would set alight."

Firefighters said residents in a house in Waltham Abbey had a lucky escape after e-batteries they were charging overnight caught fire.

Thankfully, the house had a working smoke alarm which gave the occupants an early warning.

Watch Manager Glenn Jackson said: “The E-scooter batteries were being charged overnight right by the front door, next to their escape route.

“Luckily the residents had a working smoke alarm which woke them up in time to see the smoke.”

The residents moved the batteries outside into the front garden, where they were placed into a bucket.

Firefighters have been dealing with a large field fire in Great Braxted this evening.

The fire was affecting three acres of farmland but crews worked quickly and expertly to contain it.

Station Manager John Warmann said: “Crews arrived, got to work and did a great job to stop it spreading further. 

“This is a reminder to people to please be careful in this dry weather and follow our prevention advice.”

How you can prevent wildfires

Firefighters were called to cars on fire inside a barn in Stisted earlier today.

Crews worked quickly to contain the fire inside the 27m by 20 metre building, where a number of classic vehicles were being stored.

Unfortunately, three cars and a boat were destroyed.

Watch manager Darren Hockley said: “Thanks to incredible work from our on-call firefighters we managed to limit the damage and contain the fire so not all of the vehicles and barn were lost.”

The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.

Firefighters are urging people not to set fires, especially during the dry weather.

Yesterday afternoon three crews were called to Gusted Hall Lane in Hawkwell to deal with a fire in the woodland.

People on dirt bikes were seen leaving the area before fire crews arrived.

Crew Manager Adam Paterson said: “This was just metres away from a standing crop field. Please don’t set fires deliberately, especially in these conditions.”

Our crews were called to a number of outdoor fires overnight across the county.

Update at 9.30pm

Essex Police have issued a statement which says:

A child has sadly died and another is in a critical condition in hospital following an incident at a park in Southend.

Shortly before 3pm on Saturday 28 June, it was reported a tree had partially collapsed In Chalkwell Park.

A number of children were caught beneath the tree and suffered injuries.

The park was busy with members of the public and many immediately went to their aid.

Officers, paramedics and firefighters were soon on the scene and provided care.

Firefighters visited homes in Orsett to offer home safety advice after they were called to a tumble dryer fire last night.

The residents had a working smoke alarm which detected the smoke and put out the small fire with an extinguisher.

Crews attended the scene to check the fire was fully out and give safety advice.

Crew Manager Dan Hare said: “It’s important to make sure you take extra care when using tumble dryers. In this case the residents were using the tumble dryer in a cupboard under the stairs causing it to overheat and set alight to items in the cupboard.