Fire service plea after 2,000 calls in a week

A fire service has urged people not to ignite fireworks, bonfires and disposable barbecues after one of its busiest ever weeks.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service's control team said it received 2,029 emergency 999 calls in the week to Thursday.

Firefighters were sent to 570 separate incidents, including the blaze and subsequent fertiliser explosion near Chelmsford on 24 July.

"It's fair to say that it's been a challenge," said the service's area manager Dave Bond.

"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."

More than 100 firefighters were sent to Highlands Farm near Rettendon, when the explosion caused by fertiliser injured 20 officers.

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the circumstances.

On Wednesday, crews were dispatched to a field fire in Woodham Ferrers; to a blaze at an industrial unit containing tyres near Little Waltham; and a fire affecting grassland in Great Warley near Brentwood.

"We've had to put a lot of support in for [our firefighters] so that we can keep going but they've done an absolute sterling job," added Bond.

The number of 999 calls coming into the control room will have risen steeply on Friday because of a fire at the Middlewick Ranges in Colchester.

The land is owned by the Ministry of Defence and part of it is home to wildlife including fungi, nightingales and digger wasps.

Fifty firefighters were sent to the scene, but after they surrounded the blaze, the numbers were quickly scaled back down.

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