Essex

Published 3 days ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A fire brigade has warned people to avoid lighting barbecues, chimeneas, fireworks or sky lanterns amid an "unbelievable" amount of call-outs. Essex Fire Service said it had handled more than 150 calls in 24 hours earlier this week, with the recent dry spell helping to easily spark blazes. At the weekend, a fire caused by a chimenea forced 40 people to be evacuated from their Chelmsford homes. "It's extremely busy," said area manager Neil Fenwick. "It's been absolutely unbelievable - the amount of calls we're receiving, the number of fires we're attending... fires in vegetation, fields, grasslands. "It's something we've not seen for tens of years. "Day on day we're seeing calls increase as things dry out and as the sun continues to shine down and heat the land up." Mr Fenwick said while other … [Read more...] about Essex fire bosses issue BBQ warning as dry spell continues

Published 2 days ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A fire service has said it was "extremely busy" after a number of blazes across a county in one day. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to a 25 acre (10 hectares) scrubland fire on Roscommon Way, Canvey Island, at 13:50 BST, on Thursday. Road closures were in place and the fire was under control. The service also warned of the dangers of cooking outside when a barbecue caused a garage fire in South Benfleet. Crews were also sent to a field fire in Wickham Bishops. Meanwhile a blaze at the side of A120 at Great Notley, was suspected to be "deliberate", Essex Police said. The fire service said it was called to an incident affecting a garage in Kingfisher Drive, South Benfleet, at 21:41 BST on Thursday. It said: "A barbecue had been propped up against the garage and the … [Read more...] about Essex fire service tackling field and barbeque fires

Published 24 July Share close Share page Copy link About sharing About 10 acres of corn have been destroyed in a blaze which ripped through a field. Essex Fire and Rescue were called to the large fire at a field off Church Road, Ongar at 13:17 BST on Saturday. Seven crews from across Essex attended the scene and worked for hours to bring it under control, the fire service said. People living nearby were asked to keep windows and doors closed, despite the heat, due to large plumes of smoke. A spokesman for Essex Fire and Rescue said: "Firefighters worked hard to surround the fire and prevent it from spreading further." The fire was brought under control by 15:00, the fire service added. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . If you have a story suggestion email [email protected] More on this story … [Read more...] about Essex Firefighters tackle 10-acre Ongar corn field blaze

Published 13 March 2018 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A man waited more than 20 hours for his car to be recovered by the RAC after it broke down on the M25. Andrew Warner's vehicle broke down at the Clacket Lane services near Sevenoaks, about 50 miles from his Essex home, at 18:00 GMT on Saturday. He said he contacted the RAC but it was 14:30 the following day when a recovery vehicle finally arrived. The RAC apologised and said a "series of errors" led to the "unacceptable" waiting time. Mr Warner, from Witham, whose Porsche 911 had a leak in its radiator, said the call was logged with the RAC at 18:00 on Saturday. He said it was 20:30 when they first rang him back and said they would let him know when they were on their way. When he rang back at 02:00 on Sunday, the RAC said they would not be able to send anyone out to him until 08:00. He said he … [Read more...] about Witham driver’s 20-hour wait for the RAC on the M25

Published 23 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics UK heatwaves Firefighters worked "extremely quickly" to stop a large field blaze spreading to homes, a fire service has said. Essex Fire and Rescue said it was called at 12:01 BST to Fern Hill Lane, Harlow. It The blaze had been put out by about 14:30. Thirty seven acres (15 hectares) of stubble, grass, and 2,625 ft (800m) of hedgerow were destroyed. Overhead cables have been affected and three gardens were damaged but the fire did not reach any buildings. Crews from Hertfordshire and London also attended. The cause of the fire will be investigated and crews are to remain at the scene. The fire service said the blaze spread rapidly due to the weather conditions; East Anglia has been declared a drought area by the National Drought Group. Drought declared across … [Read more...] about Harlow gardens damaged after field fire spreads

Published 22 July Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Firefighters spent more than three hours tackling a "deliberate" fire on an acre of scrubland. Four crews were called to Northwick Road on Canvey Island, Essex, at about 17:00 BST on Thursday and found trees, hedgerows, and grassland alight. Firefighters used beaters, backpack sprayers, hoses and a water bowser, to put out the first blaze. A second fire then broke out. Essex Fire Service said both fires were fully extinguished by about 20:15. The cause was recorded as deliberate, it said. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . If you have a story suggestion email [email protected] Related Internet Links Essex County Fire & Rescue Service The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Related Topics … [Read more...] about Firefighters tackle Canvey Island scrubland arson fire

Published 7 days ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Forty people were evacuated from their homes when fire swept through a cul-de-sac, destroying several gardens. Firefighters were called to Greenwood Close, in Chelmsford, Essex at 22:00 BST on Saturday, when a garden fire spread to a group of conifers. It then took hold in other gardens, multiple sheds and outbuildings. Seven people were given first aid by paramedics and 15 homes suffered damage to walls, windows and guttering, the fire service said. An investigation is being carried out to determine the cause of the fire, which was extinguished shortly after 23:00 BST. Essex Fire and Rescue service station manager Dan Wastell more than 30 firefighters were dealing with the fire at its height, and the damage was considerable due to the very dry conditions. Lucy Beardmore said she and her neighbours … [Read more...] about Chelmsford homes evacuated as fire rips through gardens

Published 6 days ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics UK heatwaves A fire which forced 40 people to be evacuated from their homes as flames spread through several gardens, was caused accidentally by a chimenea, a fire investigation has concluded. Firefighters were called to the garden fires in Greenwood Close in Chelmsford, Essex, on Saturday night. Seven people were treated by paramedics and 15 homes were damaged. More than 30 firefighters dealt with the blaze, which had spread quickly through gardens and sheds. It was extinguished at about 23:10 BST, about an hour after crews were called. Following the fire, area manager for Essex Fire and Rescue service, Neil Fenwick, said: "While summer weather usually provides the perfect opportunity to host a barbecue or gather around a chimenea in the evening, we're strongly discouraging people … [Read more...] about Chelmsford fire ripping through 15 gardens caused by chimenea

Published 1 day ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics UK heatwaves A number of homes were evacuated as crews in Essex tackled "one of the largest field fires we had ever seen". The county's fire service said the blaze across 91 acres (37 hectares) off Hollow Lane, Broomfield, Chelmsford, took hold at about 13:50 BST on Friday. An outbuilding was damaged but three homes were saved from the flames, as farmers dampened down hedges to help. The service praised residents who "clapped" when crews arrived and gave out water bottles as the sun blazed. Group manager Dan Partridge, said: "This was one of the largest field fires we had ever seen in the county but by getting our resources there quickly, we could put a weight of attack against it and stop it from spreading to nearby houses. "People lined up and clapped in our fire crews as they … [Read more...] about Broomfield blaze ‘one of the largest field fires we had ever seen’

Published 2 August Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A field fire on the Essex-Suffolk border destroyed three hectares of farmland and a large amount of straw, a fire service said. Essex Fire and Rescue Service were called to the blaze at Burnt Dick Hill, Boxted, at 13:15 BST on Tuesday. Four fire crews from across Essex and Suffolk managed to bring the fire under control within two hours. The fire service said the cause of the fire is unknown - but it is not being treated as suspicious. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . If you have a story suggestion email [email protected] More on this story Firefighters tackle large haystack fires 28 July Fire leaves 10 acres of corn field destroyed 24 July … [Read more...] about Field fire destroys large area of farmland in Boxted