More than 100 firefighters battled a major industrial fire on Southend Road in Essex on Friday, July 24, 2026, after fertilizer inside a warehouse exploded.
The scale of the blast was felt across the county, with some residents reporting the shockwave nearly 15 miles away. Local witnesses described a scene of sudden intensity, with Adrian Walker, 46, from Ashingdon, noting: The ground shook, buildings shook, windows rattled, birds flew off – and I am 15 miles away.
Walker added, I've never heard anything like it. At first, I thought it was the MoD in Shoeburyness trying out some new ordnance, but it was heard and felt for miles around.
Other locals reported that the explosion rattled their homes.
Fertilizer Explosion and Emergency Response
Area Manager Dave Bond confirmed that the inferno was sparked when fertilizer inside one of the units exploded. This specific trigger led officials to declare a major incident. The fire quickly spread, engulfing a field and multiple industrial units, forcing crews to work aggressively to prevent the flames from reaching nearby residential houses.
“This is a significant fire but we have it under control and there is no wider risk to members of the public. A number of industrial units have caught alight as well as a field and crews have been working to prevent the fire spreading to nearby houses.”
Dave Bond, Area Manager
The response involved a massive deployment of resources. In addition to the 100 firefighters, the East of England Ambulance Service deployed its hazardous area response team and declared a critical incident. According to the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service website, crews were called to the blaze on Southend Road, between East Hanningfield and Rettendon, at 4:50 p.m. By 6:30 p.m., the fire service stated that more than 100 firefighters were working to tackle the blaze. To ensure safety, Southend Road was closed between East Hanningfield and Rettendon, and residents were evacuated from their homes.
Loss of Livelihoods at the Industrial Site
Sam Dimond, the owner of the event production company Spotlight Sound, whose headquarters were located on the industrial site, stated that his business has effectively been erased. The impact extends beyond the owners to the staff who no longer have a place to report for work.
“It’s gone, basically. Lots and lots of people have lost their livelihoods. We’ve got customers to serve, we’ve got employees that have a job, and at the minute they don’t have a place of work to go back to.”
Sam Dimond, owner of Spotlight Sound
Public Safety and Environmental Precautions
Because the fire produced large plumes of smoke, officials issued specific guidance to the community to mitigate health risks. Residents in the vicinity were advised to keep all windows and doors shut throughout the evening and night.
The firefighting operation was expected to continue through the night. Regarding the status of the scene, Area Manager Dave Bond stated: Everybody at the scene is safe, residents nearby have been evacuated while we put the fire out and Southend Road is currently closed to allow us more space to work safely.
He further reassured residents that there is no wider risk to the public at this time.
The closure of Southend Road remains a primary concern for local traffic, with officials requesting that the public avoid the area entirely to allow crews the necessary space to operate safely. Bond concluded, Roads will remain closed, please avoid the area and thanks for your patience.
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