More than 100 firefighters are battling a large fire at an industrial unit in Essex after what witnesses described as a massive explosion shook nearby communities on Friday. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said crews were called to farmland on Southend Road, between East Hanningfield and Rettendon, following reports of the incident. The fire service described the emergency as a “significant incident” and deployed more than 100 firefighters to tackle the blaze.
Visuals from the scene showed large plumes of dark smoke rising high into the air, visible from several miles away. Local residents reported hearing a loud explosion before the smoke billowed across the area.
🚨 ONGOING: Video shows massive industrial unit fire in Rettendon. Dozens of fire crews are currently on the scene. pic.twitter.com/T7xUiqqHmA
— Diginomad (@Realist_pilled) July 24, 2026
ONGOING FIRE IN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, RETTENDON ESSEX #fire #essex #essexfire #live pic.twitter.com/JJaCi4CqHk
— TMCNJ (@C_Neale_) July 24, 2026
People living nearby told the BBC the blast sounded like an explosion, with one witness saying it was “like a bomb” had gone off.
The fire service urged people to stay away from the affected area while emergency crews continued their response.
“If you live or are travelling nearby, please keep your windows and doors closed,” Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said in a public advisory. The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed it was responding to what it described as a “significant incident.”
One witness, Adrian Walker, 46, from Ashingdon, told BBC that the impact of the explosion was felt well beyond the immediate area. “The ground shook, buildings shook, windows rattled, birds flew off – and I am 15 miles away,” he said.
Emergency services remained at the scene as firefighters continued working to bring the industrial unit blaze under control. Authorities have asked the public to avoid the area while the response remains ongoing.