Huge explosion and fire rip through Essex industrial site as blaze comes under control

More than 100 firefighters were sent to an industrial unit near Rettendon in Essex after a huge explosion triggered by a fire tore through the site on Friday. The Essex fire service declared a major incident as crews worked to tackle the blaze and contain smoke drifting across the area south of Chelmsford. By Friday evening, the fire brigade said the blaze was under control and there was no wider risk to the public.

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The fire service warned people nearby to stay away from the area and, if they lived close by, to keep doors and windows closed. Video shared on social media showed the moment of the explosion, with people seen running from the blaze as flames spread through the industrial unit. The force of the blast was reported to have been felt across a wide area, although the exact cause has not been confirmed.

Emergency services remained at the scene as the incident developed, with police and the East of England Ambulance Service also involved. The ambulance service said its hazardous area response team was in attendance. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said there was still significant smoke at the scene earlier in the evening, but area manager Dave Bond said he believed the fire had been surrounded.

The incident matters because industrial fires can quickly become major public safety events, especially when an explosion is involved. A major incident declaration usually signals that local services are dealing with a situation beyond routine response levels and need extra coordination. In this case, the scale of the response suggests concerns about fire spread, smoke exposure and the safety of people working at or near the site.

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The site is near Rettendon, south of Chelmsford, and the blast was reported on Friday afternoon before updates were issued later in the day. Witnesses described a powerful bang, with some comparing it to a bomb or a sonic boom, underlining the intensity of the explosion. The available information does not confirm whether anyone was injured or how much damage was caused inside the unit.

What remains unclear is what started the fire and whether investigators will find any wider impact on nearby businesses or infrastructure. The immediate priority for crews is to fully extinguish the blaze and make the area safe before a detailed assessment can begin. Further updates are likely once emergency services have completed their work at the scene.

An explosion tore through an industrial unit near Rettendon in Essex on Friday, triggering a major fire and prompting a major incident declaration. More than 100 firefighters were sent to the scene as smoke drifted across the area south of Chelmsford. By Friday evening, emergency crews were still working to bring the blaze under control.

Witnesses described a powerful blast that could be heard and felt across a wide area. One local resident said the sound was like a bomb, while others compared it to a sonic boom. Footage from the scene showed a ball of flames erupting into the air, followed by wreckage and several smaller fires around the main blast site.

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Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said there was still significant smoke at the scene, but area manager Dave Bond said he believed the fire had been surrounded. He asked for the public's patience while crews continued to extinguish the fire and bring the incident to a close. The East of England Ambulance Service said its hazardous area response team was in attendance, alongside police.

As of Friday evening, it was not clear whether anyone had been injured or what had caused the explosion and fire. Residents in the surrounding area were advised to keep their windows and doors closed because of the smoke. The scale of the response suggests the incident was treated as a serious risk to nearby communities and to those working at the site.

Industrial explosions of this kind can create immediate dangers from fire, smoke and structural damage, as well as uncertainty over possible casualties. The declaration of a major incident indicates that local services were dealing with an event beyond routine response levels. In practical terms, that can mean extra coordination between fire, ambulance and police services while the scene is made safe.

The site is near Rettendon, south of Chelmsford, and the blast was reported in the afternoon before emergency services issued evening updates. Several people in nearby towns said they heard or felt the explosion from miles away, underlining the force of the blast. The cause remains unknown, and there has been no confirmation of the extent of damage inside the industrial unit.

What happens next will depend on firefighters fully extinguishing the blaze and investigators establishing how the explosion began. It is also still unclear whether there were any casualties or whether nearby businesses were affected. Further updates are likely once the scene is safe enough for a more detailed assessment.

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