Twenty firefighters taken to hospital after Rettendon explosion

A significant fire erupted at an industrial facility near the village of Rettendon in Essex, prompting emergency services to declare a major incident on Friday. The blaze, which began at Highlands Farm, quickly escalated and spread to a fertiliser storage unit, resulting in a powerful explosion. Over 100 firefighters were deployed to tackle the rapidly developing fire, which destroyed three fire engines and two fire service cars in the process.

Rick Hylton, the chief fire officer for Essex, described the event as “one of the most challenging and complex incidents Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has responded to in recent years.” During a media briefing on Saturday, he applauded the dedication and bravery of the firefighting teams involved in controlling the situation. Twenty firefighters involved in the response were taken to hospital, with four sustaining minor injuries and sixteen others undergoing precautionary checks for potential hearing damage after the explosion. Fortunately, all were released following treatment.

The fire service was initially alerted around 16:50 BST on Friday following reports of a fire impacting industrial units and adjacent land on Southend Road, located between East Hanningfield and Rettendon. Firefighters encountered intense flames that spread rapidly, with the incident intensifying when the fertiliser unit exploded at approximately 17:46. Witnesses described the sound of the blast as akin to a bomb or a sonic boom, with some reporting falling hot debris.

By Saturday, around 25 firefighters remained at the scene, focusing on dampening down remaining hotspots. An investigation into the cause of the fire has begun, while recovery efforts to support the affected businesses are ongoing, according to Hylton. The fire chief also urged the public to refrain from speculation regarding the origins of the fire as inquiries continue

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