Fire crews remained at the scene of a substantial industrial fire on Southend Road, between East Hanningfield and Rettendon, after a major incident was declared late on Friday.
Scale of the response and ongoing operations
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters were called to the site at 4.50pm on Friday. A number of industrial units and an adjoining field were alight. The presence of stored fertiliser in one unit led to an explosion that was reported and observed by people across the county.
About 100 firefighters worked on tackling the blaze, with crews continuing into the night and some expected to remain at the scene into the weekend. By 10.45pm, incident commanders reported that they had the fire under control and were beginning to scale back resources while maintaining an active 50-strong presence.
“We’re still at the scene of a significant fire in East Hanningfield. As you can see behind me, we’re still dealing with significant spots of fire. However, we do have this incident under control and surrounded,”
The force added that it was working closely with partner agencies, including the police, ambulance service, utility companies and specialist advisers to manage the incident safely.
Public safety and local impact
Nearby residents were evacuated while crews dealt with the incident. The East of England Ambulance Service declared a critical incident and its hazardous area response team attended the scene. Smoke plumes from the fire were widely visible and residents in surrounding areas reported explosions.
Authorities advised members of the public who could smell smoke to keep doors and windows closed while operations continue and urged people to avoid the area to allow emergency services to work unimpeded.
- Location: Southend Road, between East Hanningfield and Rettendon
- Call time: 4.50pm on Friday
- Firefighters initially deployed: around 100
- On-scene contingency later that night: approximately 50 firefighters
- Other agencies involved: police, ambulance, utility companies, specialist advisers
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 16:50 | Fire crews called to industrial units |
| Late evening | Major incident declared; evacuations; explosion reported |
| 22:45 | Fire described as under control but ongoing; scaling down began |
Residents affected were told emergency services had ensured everyone at the scene was safe. The force apologised for any inconvenience caused and thanked the public for their patience while the incident is managed.
Local people are advised to keep clear of the area and to follow any updates from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and partner agencies for further safety information.
