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Essex County Fire chief Rick Hylton
20 firefighters were taken to hospital after a massive fire at an industrial unit in Essex triggered a fertiliser explosion, destroying three fire engines and two fire service vehicles.Authorities said four firefighters suffered minor injuries while the rest were treated as a precaution before being discharged, Sky News reported.
Fertiliser explosion destroys emergency vehicles
The blaze broke out at around 4.50 pm on Friday at Highlands Farm on Southend Road between East Hanningfield and Rettendon. Firefighters responding to the incident were met with a fast-moving fire that spread to a fertiliser storage area, where a powerful explosion occurred.
Essex Chief Fire Officer Rick Hylton said the blast destroyed three fire engines and two fire officer cars, underscoring the intensity of the incident."The fire and explosion destroyed three fire engines and two officer cars that were being used to respond to the incident. This underlines the scale and intensity of the conditions our crews faced," Hylton said.
20 firefighters hospitalised, all discharged
Hylton said 20 firefighters attended hospital following the incident.
Four sustained minor injuries, while the remaining 16 underwent precautionary checks, including hearing assessments after the explosion. All have since been discharged.He described the blaze as one of the most complex incidents Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has dealt with in recent years and praised crews for their professionalism and courage.
Major incident declared as smoke engulfs area
A major incident was declared as thick black smoke billowed across the surrounding area.
Nearby residents were evacuated, while people living close to the site were advised to keep their doors and windows shut due to smoke.More than 100 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze. By Saturday, around 25 firefighters remained at the site carrying out damping-down operations.
Witnesses describe blast as 'like a bomb'
According to the BBC, residents said the explosion was heard and felt miles away. Witnesses described the blast as sounding "like a bomb" or a "sonic boom", with some reporting that hot debris fell from the sky.Motorist Colin Neale Jr, who was driving nearby, flew a drone over the area after seeing towering smoke plumes. He said the footage suggested multiple fields had caught fire and two industrial sites appeared to have been affected.Local councillor Danielle Belton said the explosion had shaken the community and praised emergency crews for bringing the situation under control.Authorities said the fire has now been brought under control, but crews will remain at the site as recovery work continues. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire, while officials are assessing the damage to affected businesses.
