Firefighters rescued a paddle boarder after she got into difficulty on the River Stour at Flatford.

The woman fell into the water and her paddle board floated away today at 12.08pm. She managed to hold onto a tree and alert a passer-by who called 999.

Crews from Manningtree, Colchester and our Urban Search and Rescue team attended.

Station Manager Terry Maher said: "Although she was wearing a wetsuit, she didn't have a life jacket or floatation device and she hadn't used a leash to attach her to the paddle board and unfortunately it floated away from her.

Firefighters rescued a man from a smoke filled house in Basildon last night (Tuesday 3 January) after the occupant put some food in the oven and fell asleep.

The alarm was raised by neighbours who had heard a smoke alarm and saw smoke filling the house. They called 999 but were unable to see if the occupant was home or not.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the house and found a man sleeping in the front room. They lead him outside to safety.

Fire crews found the smoke was coming from the kitchen. Some food had been left unattended in the oven.

Firefighters were called to reports of fire and smoke coming from behind some houses in Manor Street, Braintree tonight.

The Fire Control 999 operators received a number of calls reporting the fire.

When firefighters arrived they reported that an outbuilding, measuring approximately 6m x 4m, was completely on fire.

Fire crews has fully extinguished the fire by 7:20pm.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire in a second floor flat in Clacton tonight (Friday 30 December)

When crews arrived they reported the second floor flat was engulfed in fire and full of smoke.

Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the flat and extinguished the fire. Thanks to the quick actions of the crews, they managed to stop the fire spreading to the adjoining properties.

The family living in the property were alerted to the fire by their working smoke alarms. When they heard the alarm, they got out, stayed out and called 999. 

Firefighters were called to a road traffic collision involving a vehicle which had overturned and was on it's roof. The driver was trapped in the vehicle.

Crews were called to a house in Orsett this morning (Monday 26 December) after a dog walker noticed smoke coming from the property and called 999. 

On arrival firefighters reported that the house was completely smoke logged and there was a fire in the kitchen. 

Station Manager Mark Elliott said:

"We're not sure how long the fire had been burning as no one was at home and there were no smoke alarms going off. It wasn't until a passerby noticed smoke that we were called. 

A freak accident has left a bedroom smoke damaged.

Crews were called to a house in Hockley this evening (Saturday 24 December) after reports of a smoke-filled house. 

On arrival firefighters reported that there was a smouldering fire in a bedroom and quickly worked to extinguish it. 

Watch Manager Gary Shinn said:

"The homeowner was out and came back to find her house full of smoke. 

Crews were called to a terraced cottage after the neighbour heard the smoke alarm going off and called 999. 

On arrival firefighters found a fire in a first-floor bedroom. 

Station Manager Gary Clarke said:

"Our crews did a really good job of bringing this fire under control. We'd had concerns it might spread to the rood but thanks to their firefighting skills it was contained to the bedroom and quickly extinguished.