Firefighters are currently tackling a fire affecting three terraced bungalows in Milton Close, Southend. 

The fire has been surrounded and is now under control. 

Incident Commander Steve Osborn said: "When crews arrived the fire was well developed and was spreading into the roof space of the bungalow. Firefighters worked hard to stop it from spreading further. Unfortunately residents of the affected properties have been made homeless. We will be carrying out a full fire investigation into the cause when it is safe to do so."

A fire investigation has been carried out and the cause was recorded as accidental - electrical fault. 

Update 7pm 

Incident Commander Dan Wastell said: "Crews have worked hard and the fire is now under control. It is two semi-detached houses which are fully alight. There is still a lot of smoke coming from the incident so if you live in the area please keep your windows and doors closed." 

A fire investigation will be carried out tomorrow morning to determine the cause. 

A fire investigation has been carried out, firefighters believe the cause was batteries from an electric scooter.

Crews extinguished a fire affecting a warehouse in Widdington.

We were called to Mole Hall Lane yesterday (19 June) at 8.25pm and crews from Newport, Thaxted, Stansted, Saffron Walden (two) and Great Dunmow attended.

The single storey building, measuring about 25 metres by 25 metres, was completely alight when crews arrived.

Crews have issued safety advice after an e-scooter caused a fire in a refuse lorry.

We were called to Church Road, Basildon today at 9.36am and crews from Basildon (two) and Rayleigh Weir attended.

Council workers called 999 after a fire started in the lorry.

Station Manager Jason Gould said: "About 10% of the rubbish was alight but crews managed to remove the burning material and stop it from spreading to the vehicle.

"The fire was caused by an e-scooter which had been thrown out in someone's wheelie bin.

Crews extinguished a fire affecting 100 tonnes of waste.

We were called to Sturmer Road, New England, between Great Yeldham and Haverhill, today (Wednesday 18 June) at 12.24am and crews from Wethersfield, Sible Hedingham, Clare and Haverhill (two) attended.

Crews were faced with a large pile of general waste, approximately 20 metres by 20 metres, fully alight.

They set up a water shuttle, due to a limited supply in the remote location, which was supplemented by Halstead's Water Bowser providing a high volume of water.

A smoke alarm alerted occupants to a house fire in Chigwell.

We were called to Fencepiece Road today at 3.14pm and crews from Loughton, Basildon and Grays attended, along with five crews and an Aerial Ladder Platform from London Fire Brigade.

Crews were faced with a fire affecting the roof and first floor of a semi-detached house.

Station Manager Howard Midwood said: "Crews from Essex and London worked really well together to get what was a fully developed fire under control.

Crews have extinguished a fire affecting hay, an agricultural building and a caravan in Matching Tye.

We were called to Harlow Road today (Saturday 14 June) at 3.06pm and crews from Harlow (two), Leaden Roding and Newport attended.

Group Manager Steve Wintrip said: "Crews found a fully developed fire affecting a static caravan and an agricultural building, measuring around 20 metres by 5 metres, full of hay.

"Crews worked really hard to stop the fire spreading to a chemical store and garage, and also managed to save around half of the building.