Summary

  • Essex Fire and Rescue Service held a press conference to give an update after a fire and explosion ripped through an Essex industrial unit

  • More than 100 firefighters were sent to the "major incident" on farmland between East Hanningfield and Rettendon, which broke out on Friday

  • Twenty firefighters were taken to hospital but have been discharged

  • Three fire engines and two fire service cars were also destroyed in the blaze

  • Witnesses told the BBC the explosion sounded "like a bomb" and likened it to a "sonic boom"

  • Firefighters urged people nearby to avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed

  • Aerial footage from the scene shows the wreckage of industrial buildings and burnt-out vehicles, with multiple fires burning

  • Essex Fire and Rescue Service say the fire has been "surrounded" but is still burning, and the cause of the blaze was being investigated.

Live Reporting

Reporting by Rachael McMenemy

  1. 'The whole house completely shook'

    Joshua Holmes-Bright
    Reporting from Essex

    Debbie Thaxter wearing sunglasses outside

    Debbie Thaxter, 63, lives on East Hanningfield Road near the site of the incident. She said it felt like "a sonic explosion" when the fire broke out.

    "The whole house completely shook, the windows I thought we were going to lose them," she tells me.

    "I ran out the house and my next door neighbour was really distressed and crying because we we just saw the flames," she adds, describing the scene as "really, really frightening".

    "When I've gone upstairs all the loft hatches have sort of blown off and everything and part of the plaster's come off the ceiling," she says, adding that her house is currently without power.

  2. In pictures: Smoke and flames at site of explosion

    Pictures from the scene show dark smoke rising above the smouldering fire, with ambulances parked nearby.

    Smoke rises above the site of the incident
    Closer in, we see smoke and flames next to parked ambulances
    Smouldering fire
    The burnt out cab of a lorry

  3. Moment of explosion captured on camera

    Footage on social media captured the moment the fire triggered a massive explosion in Essex.

    We will bring you the full footage shortly.

    An explosion in Essex

  4. Firefighters believe they have the blaze surrounded

    More from Essex fire service's Dave Bond, who says firefighters "believe that we've got the fire surrounded now".

    He asks for the public's patience as they work to extinguish the fire, and says he will share more updates later.

  5. Fire service declares major incident
    Breaking

    The Essex fire service has declared the fire a major incident due to its size.

    In an update posted on social media, Area Manager Dave Bond says there is still "significant smoke" coming from the fire, and people are still advised to stay away from the area.

  6. Helicopter footage shows scale of the destruction

    Aerial footage shows wreckage of huge fire in Essex

    Footage captured by the BBC from a helicopter shows the scale of the destruction.

    A large area is on fire and the flames are affecting multiple buildings and vehicles.

  7. Collapsed building surrounded by smoke

    Fire burning around a collapsed building on a fieldZoie O'Brien/BBC
    Fire burning around a collapsed building on a field, pictured further away than the other picture.Zoie O'Brien/BBC

  8. BBC reporter describes 'loud bangs' at the scene

    Zoie O'Brien
    Reporting from Rettendon

    From my position on Old Church Road, loud bangs can be heard from the scene of the fire.

    The smoke plume is visible many miles away on the A12 and in the area people have pulled over and are watching the scene unfold.

  9. People living in Rettendon will be shaken by this fire

    Lewis Adams
    Essex

    The area where this fire has broken out is a quiet one.

    Rettendon is a small village of about 2,000 residents and is surrounded by rolling Essex countryside.

    Many people living there will no doubt be shaken by what is happening on their doorstep tonight.

    Southend Road runs parallel to the much busier A130, leading drivers to Chelmsford in the north and to Battlesbridge and Runwell in the south, heading towards Basildon and Southend-on-Sea.

  10. Thick smoke plumes into sky as Essex fire rages

    Thick smoke plumes into the sky as Essex industrial fire rages

    This footage we've gathered shows the scale of the incident the emergency crews are dealing with.

    Huge plumes of smoke are billowing up into the air.

    As a reminder, there are more than 100 firefighters working at the scene.

  11. What we know so far about the fire

    A large plume of smoke rising above houses and trees.Dave Wilkins

    This picture was taken in South Woodham Ferrers

    If you're just joining us, here's what we know about this incident so far:

    • More than 100 firefighters are tackling a large blaze at an industrial unit in Essex
    • The affected building is off Southend Road, Rettendon
    • The East of England Ambulance Service has described it as a "significant incident"
    • People have been urged to avoid the area and keep their windows closed if they live nearby
    • Some have told the BBC they heard an explosion followed by huge plumes of smoke

  12. Fire was first reported at 16:50 BST

    The fire was first reported at 16:50 BST, according to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service's call logs.

    Roads in the area surrounding the blaze have been shut by the police.

  13. The noise was 'incredible', says retiree

    We've just heard from David Harris, who lives about six miles (10km) away in Rayleigh.

    "I was on the telephone talking to my friend in Wickford and I heard a vroom," the 75-year-old says.

    "When I went and had a look, there's this great pool of black smoke coming up. I watched it and thought, 'My goodness, what's that all about?'."

    Recalling the explosion, he adds: "It sounded as though somebody dropped a sort of pallet of bricks or something just over the road, it was that loud, it was incredible."

  14. Concern over what may be burning in the building

    More from Steven Whan, who says he's following the fire service's advice.

    "I'm not stupid, I’ve shut all my windows," he says.

    "What goes up comes down - and it's not nice what's in that cloud."

  15. Have you been affected by the explosion? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch.

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  16. Local thought 'sonic boom' had occurred

    Steven Whan, 58, from Bicknacre, near Danbury, thought he had heard a jet's sonic boom when the explosion occurred.

    "Our house shook, the doorbell went off. I thought it was a sonic boom because we've experienced that before," he says.

    Whan adds: "The police have blocked off everything. You can't get nowhere near it."

  17. Sky filled with smoke in different parts of the county

    Smoke rising above houses in ChelmsfordAlison Mead

    Alison Mead said this picture was taken in Chelmsford just seconds after hearing an explosion

    Smoke rising above a field.Nicola Cowton

    Smoke can be seen from this campsite in Canewdon

  18. 'Mushroom cloud shot into the sky,' says resident

    Smoke rising above a line of properties.Matthew Fergusson

    The smoke has been described as like a "mushroom cloud" by Matthew Fergusson

    Matthew Fergusson, from Wickford, has described a "massive explosion" that sent a "mushroom cloud" towering into the sky.

    "We heard a massive explosion. It shook our house and we're a good mile away.

    "I thought someone had dropped something heavy upstairs, but when I went outside the whole street was out.

    "The people opposite us said their house shook too."

  19. Pictures show smoke across Essex

    Large plumes of smoke rising above a line of trees.Owen Ward/BBC

    The smoke as seen from Pitsea, near Basildon

    Large plumes of smoke rising above a row of trees, set by a riverbank.Carole Vernon

    This picture was taken by the water in Hullbridge

    A tall tower of smoke rising above trees and houses.Dave Wilkins

    And this image was captured in South Woodham Ferrers

  20. More than 100 firefighters tackling the blaze
    Breaking

    The fire service has just issued a new update on the unfolding situation.

    "Over 100 firefighters are working to extinguish the fire in Southend Road," it says.

    "Please continue to avoid the area, and keep your windows and doors closed if you live nearby."