Firefighters rescued a cat from a smoke filled building today after a fire in an electric cupboard in Braintree.

Crews were called to a block of flats in St James Road, Braintree at 1:45pm.

On arrival, crews reported that there was a fire in an electrical cupboard.

Firefighters worked to evacuate residents - including a cat who was safely escorted out of the building - while crews extinguished the fire.

The fire was extinguished by 2:30pm.

Firefighters were called to a house fire in Vange in the early hours of this morning.

On arrival, crews reported that a house was heavily smoke logged after a fire in a bathroom.

Firefighters believe the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the bathroom.

Firefighters worked to ventilate the property but due to the smoke damage, the residents have been rendered homeless.

Dovercourt firefighters rescued a dog and a lizard during a flat fire in Harwich yesterday.

Firefighters were called to a flat fire in High Street, Harwich yesterday afternoon at 3pm.

On arrival, crews reported that a flat above a row of businesses was 100% smoke logged and the smoke alarms were going off.

Firefighters wearing Breathing Apparatus entered the property and found the hob was on fire.

Crews rescued a dog and a lizard from the flat.

The dog, a Lurcher, was given oxygen therapy by firefighters and left in the care of a vet.

UPDATE 1.10pm

Crews freed the driver shortly before midday and left him in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Our Control team has been liaising with environmental authorities with regards to a fuel leak, which firefighters managed to contain. 

Firefighters have now left the scene with Essex Police and National Highways. Police have urged motorists to avoid area because the road will remain closed for some time.

Crews were called to a fire in a yard on London Road, Southend, in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday). 

At 2.45am the incident commander reported two tonnes of tyres and a number of vehicles were on fire. 

Incident Commander David Gomez said:

"Our crews did a fantastic job of surrounding the fire and stopping it from spreading to nearby buildings. 

"It was thanks to their hard work and skill that we managed to quickly bring it under control and extinguish it within 90 minutes."

Crews were called to Hyde Lane, Chelmsford, after a driver lost control and crashed his car.

All three emergency services were called to the scene and firefighters from Chelmsford and South Woodham Ferrers worked to stabilise the car and make the area safe. 

The casualty was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.