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. News conference highlights

    Our live page coverage is now ending.

    You can watch highlights from the news conference below.

    Essex fire chief thanks residents for 'making a real difference'

  2. Public thanked for support

    The press conference lasted less than five minutes.

    Hylton ended it by thanking the media for sharing the fire service's messages and the public for their support and help by following advice.

    Rick Hylton, Chief Fire Officer for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, reads a statement to the media at Great Baddow Fire Station, Essex,PA Media

  3. Recovery for businesses

    Hylton says he knows many local businesses have been affected.

    "I recognise the disruption and uncertainty that this has caused," he says.

    The fire service will work closely with partners to support the recovery process "as safely and quickly as possible", he adds.

  4. Why was a major incident declared?

    Firefighters were faced with a large and "rapidly developing" fire involving several units and surrounding farmland at Highlands Farm on Southend Road.

    The first call came in at about 16:50 BST.

    At 17:46 BST on Friday, a major incident was declared after a unit housing fertiliser exploded.

    Hylton says the decision was taken due to the "scale and complexity of the incident", the "significant" number of resources required and the need to coordinate a multi-agency response.

  5. Investigation ongoing

    A formal investigation is already under way.

    Hylton urges people not to speculate on the cause of the fire while it is being determined.

    Firefighter speaks at a press conference from behind a podium

  6. 'Remarkable courage' of firefighters

    Hylton says the incident was "extremely challenging" for all involved.

    "Our firefighters demonstrated remarkable professionalism, courage and commitment throughout the response," he adds.

    "I want to personally thank every firefighter, fire control operator and member of staff who has played their part in this response."

  7. Fire chief thanks medics

    "My thanks to the teams at the hospitals and East of England Ambulance Service who cared for and supported my colleagues," the chief said.

    "Alongside protecting the public, the safety and wellbeing of our firefighters will always be our highest priority."

  8. Fire engines destroyed by blaze

    Three fire engines and two officer cars being used to respond to the incident have been destroyed.

    Hylton says this "underlines the scale and intensity" of the conditions crews faced.

  9. 'Challenging and complex' incident

    In his statement, Hylton said: "This is one of the most challenging and complex incidents Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has responded to in recent years."

    He added that firefighters worked "tirelessly in extremely challenging and hazardous conditions" from yesterday into this morning to contain the fire and stop it spreading any further.

  10. Twenty firefighters taken to hospital
    Breaking

    A total of 20 firefighters were taken to hospital.

    Four were treated for minor injuries, and the rest were checked over for issues including hearing loss.

    All have now been discharged from hospital, the fire chief said.

  11. Firefighters put in "incredible effort"

    Hylton praises the "incredible effort" of firefighters.

    He said more than 100 firefighters responded to the "significant incident".

  12. Press conference begins

    Rick Hylton, Chief Fire Officer is addressing the media. Click above to watch live.

    He's expected to give an overview of what happened when an industrial unit fire spread to a fertiliser store and caused a massive explosion.

    A fire engind with a stand inf ront of it with micorphones.Henry-Godfrey-Evans/BBC

  13. Media gathers for update

    Henry Godfrey-Evans
    Reporter

    Cameras on tripods and peole with cameras and notebooks are gathered.Henry Godfrey-Evans

    Reporters have started gathering outside Great Baddow Fire Station ahead of a news conference scheduled to start at noon.

    We expect to hear from Rick Hylton, Chief Fire Officer at Essex Fire and Rescue Service.

  14. Aerial shots show devastation

    Aerial shots from BBC cameraman Stephen Huntley show the scale of the devastation caused by the blaze on Friday night.

    Fields surrounding the industrial unit are blackened, a building has collapsed, and there is shrapnel scattered on the ground.

    Aerial shot shows huge plumes of black smoke inthe air. Fire engines are parked on the closest road. Orange flames are visible through the smoke.Stephen Huntley/BBC
    Pockets of orange flames can be seen in the wreckage of a collapsed and burnt out building. Thick black smoke is rising from the debris.Stephen Huntley/BBC
    Thick black smoke plumes fill the air. Orange flames can be seen below.Stephen Huntley/BBC

  15. Cause of fire being investigated

    About 50 firefighters stayed at the scene overnight.

    On Friday night, area manager Dave Bond said there would be a "thorough investigation" to establish the cause of the fire.

  16. Shrapnel fell from the sky

    Jackie Head, who lives close to the scene, said she saw smoke and, when she went to look at it, heard a "massive explosion".

    "It was just like a mushroom cloud, went up orange, yellow. It was scary, everything shook, and people heard it for miles around," she added.

    "We had a bit of metal come through the air that was metres from us, which was beginning to set fire to the grass. My husband went over and kicked that out of the grass, but bits from the explosion set the back field alight."

    Her husband Phil Head said: "Pieces of shrapnel came over past us into the field behind and caught the field alight. It was just mayhem, just crazy. It happened within minutes".

    A woman with blonde hair and glasses looks into the camera. She is standing in front of a large house and pool. Behind the house large plumes of grey smoke are going into the air.Stephen Huntley/BBC

  17. What we know so far:

    • Essex Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident after a fire at an industrial unit
    • It was called to Southend Road, East Hanningfield, near the village of Rettendon at 16:50 BST on Friday
    • More than 100 firefighters were at the scene at the peak of the blaze
    • The fire spread to a fertiliser store, causing a massive explosion
    • Firefighters worked through the night, and the response has been scaled down to 25 firefighters as of 08:00 BST on Saturday

  18. Fire service to hold press conference

    Firefighters are still at the scene of a where a large blaze broke out at industrial units near the village of Rettendon in Essex.

    Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is due to hold a press conference at 12:00 BST at Great Baddow Fire Station.

    Stay with us while we bring you the latest updates.

  19. Major Essex fire still burning after explosion at industrial unit

    More than 100 firefighters are still battling a large fire at an Essex industrial unit, after a huge explosion was seen at the site earlier on Friday.

    In its latest update, the Essex fire service says it has the fire surrounded but it has not been extinguished.

    The service has declared a major incident due to the size of the fire and warns people in the area to keep their windows and doors closed.

    We still don't know what triggered the massive explosion, or whether there are any injuries.

    We're pausing our live coverage for now - you can read more about this story here.

  20. Watch: Moment explosion seen at industrial unit

    Video posted on social media captured the moment an explosion tore through an industrial building in Essex earlier today.

    It appears a major fire had already broken out prior to the explosion.