Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has warned that crews have been operating under sustained pressure after its control team received 2,029 emergency 999 calls in the week to last Thursday and firefighters were mobilised to 570 separate incidents.
Major incidents included fertiliser explosion and MoD land blaze
The busiest calls included a significant incident near Chelmsford on 24 July, when a fertiliser explosion at Highlands Farm, Rettendon, required more than 100 firefighters. That event resulted in 20 officers being injured and is now subject to an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive.
Later in the week, the service committed resources to a large fire at Middlewick Ranges, land owned by the Ministry of Defence near Colchester. At the height of that incident, around 50 firefighters were in attendance before numbers were scaled back once the blaze was contained. The site is known to support a range of wildlife.
Other significant responses
- A field fire in Woodham Ferrers.
- A blaze at an industrial unit containing tyres in Little Waltham.
- A grassland fire in Great Warley, near Brentwood.
Area manager Dave Bond described the period as testing for crews but praised their efforts. He said that despite the demand the service had been able to respond to every incoming incident.
"It's fair to say that it's been a challenge... we are really fortunate that the crews are absolutely working their socks off and we've been able to respond to every incident that has come in."
Operational strain and support measures
Bond added the service had put "a lot of support in" to sustain operations and keep crews functioning through a week that included several complex and overlapping incidents. The variety of tasks — from industrial blazes to fires on MoD land and grassland — underlined the breadth of demand on local fire resources.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| 999 calls received (week to Thursday) | 2,029 |
| Incidents attended | 570 |
| Firefighters at Highlands Farm | More than 100 |
| Personnel injured (Highlands Farm) | 20 officers |
| Firefighters at Middlewick Ranges (peak) | 50 |
The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the circumstances surrounding the Highlands Farm explosion. No further details about the ongoing investigation were provided by the fire service in the latest update.
What this means for residents
The week of heightened activity serves as a reminder of the pressures on emergency services during periods of increased fire risk. Residents should follow standard fire-safety advice and heed any local guidance from the fire service and other authorities, particularly when using open land, handling combustible materials or engaging in activities such as bonfires, barbecues or the use of incendiary items.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service emphasised the commitment of its crews to respond to incidents across the county and that additional support arrangements have been put in place to maintain operational resilience.
Further updates may follow as investigations progress into the large-scale incidents reported this week.
