Essex County Fire and Rescue Service was still at Highlands Farm near East Hanningfield on Friday 24 July after the Southend Road blaze, Essex, with crews dealing with remaining hotspots. The incident was under control and there was no wider risk to the public, even after a response that reached more than 100 firefighters.
At 4pm, 15 firefighters were on site, down from 20 at 12pm, as the operation moved further into recovery. Rick Hylton said: "This is one of the most challenging and complex incidents Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has responded to in recent years."
Highlands Farm Response
The first emergency calls came at 4.50pm yesterday afternoon to a fire at Highlands Farm near East Hanningfield. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service then kept crews on scene to work through hotspots, while Chelmsford City Council led the multi-agency recovery effort.
That shift from emergency response to recovery leaves a smaller fire presence in place, but it does not mean the site is finished. A fire can keep smouldering after the main flames are brought under control, and that is why firefighters stayed on the ground into Friday.
Rick Hylton Update
Hylton’s assessment also pointed to the scale of the incident. More than 100 firefighters were deployed at its height, which puts the later drop to 20 at 12pm and 15 at 4pm into context. The service later began a formal investigation into the cause of the fire.
UK Health Security Agency said the overall risk to public health from the smoke plume and debris was low. It also said some people may have had temporary symptoms such as sore eyes, coughing or a sore throat, particularly those with asthma.
For anyone near Highlands Farm, the practical position is simple: the main blaze has been brought under control, but crews remained on site while recovery continued and the cause was put under investigation. The next phase is about clearing the last hotspots and establishing what started the fire at Highlands Farm.
