More than 100 firefighters are battling a large blaze at an industrial unit on farmland near Rettendon, Essex, after a series of explosions shook the area on Friday. The Essex Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident due to the scale of the fire at Highlands Farm on Southend Road, where crews were called at 4:50 PM on 24 July.
The explosions were heard up to 15 miles away in Southend, causing alarm in surrounding villages. By 8:15 PM, Area Manager Dave Bond said the fire was believed to be surrounded but had not yet been extinguished. The cause of the explosion and any injuries remain unknown.
The East of England Ambulance Service responded to what it called a significant incident, while Southend Road experienced severe disruption. Residents have been advised to keep windows and doors closed as crews continue to work on the fire.