Firefighters are highlighting the importance of having an escape plan in case of a fire after a cottage fire last night. 

Crews were called to Crow Hall Lane, Bradfield at 9:47pm after the resident heard his smoke alarms going off. 

He opened his bedroom door and was confronted by smoke coming from downstairs. He acted quickly to shut a bedroom door, put a towel along the bottom and climb out of an upstairs window onto the flat roof of the property to safety. 

Update 5pm

Firefighters have been working to cool the area and are now leaving the scene.

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

Firefighters are currently at the scene of a fire in a commercial building in High Street, Billericay. 

Four crews have extinguished the fire and crews are working to dampen the scene and monitor hotspots. 

The High Street will be closed while we deal with this incident. 

Update 3pm

The cause of the fire could not be determined.

Firefighters were called to reports of smoke in Turnpike Lane, West Tilbury at 11:46pm last night. 

On arrival, two crews from Grays reported eight lorries were on fire in a yard and requested the help of four crews from Basildon, Orsett and Corringham. 

Due to the remote area, crews also requested a Water Bowser from Corringham to help shuttle water to the scene. 

Firefighters are giving bonfire safety advice after a bonfire spread to fences and the outside of a flat in Harlow this afternoon. 

Two crews from Harlow were called to a garden fire in Fold Croft, Harlow at 2:52pm. 

On arrival, crews reported a bonfire had spread to fence panels and had started to affect the outside of a flat. 

Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire and gave first aid to a man who had burns to his hands and face. 

Update 11pm 

Firefighters have now left the scene after monitoring hotspots this evening.

An investigation was carried out and the cause of the fire was undetermined.

Update 6pm 

At 6pm, we scaled the incident down to one crew who will remain overnight working to make the building structurally safe.

Update 3pm 

The fire is now out and we’re in a position to scale the incident down to four crews and one Aerial Ladder platform. 

Crews have been praised after extinguishing a fire at a community hall.

We were called to Gorse Lane, Clacton today at 1.12am after a residents spotted a fire at Burrsville Public Hall.

Crews from Clacton (two) and Weeley attended and extinguished the fire by 2.30am.

Station Manager Nick Singleton said: "We believe the fire started in the shed / decking area and spread to the community hall.

"Unfortunately, the roof, doors and windows are badly damaged and our hearts go out to everyone who uses the hall.

Crews extinguished a maisonette fire in Witham.

We were called to a two-storey property in Blackthorn Road on Thursday (28 March) at 10.36pm by a neighbour.

Crews from Chelmsford (two), Colchester (two), Great Baddow, Maldon and an Aerial Ladder Platform from Grays attended. 

The first crew arrived in six minutes and found a well-developed fire affecting both floors.

Sadly a man died at the scene.

UPDATE 5PM (Wednesday 27 March)

An investigation into the cause of the fire was carried out throughout the day. The cause was found to be accidental.

UPDATE: 7.45AM (Wednesday 27 March)

Crews will remain at the scene this morning to continue to dampen down and extinguish hotspots.

Group Manager Dan Partridge said: "We are meeting at the site with the building owner and other partners this morning to plan how we will hand the scene over later today.