Twenty firefighters were hospitalized following an explosion and subsequent blaze at an industrial unit in Essex on July 24, 2026. More than 100 firefighters responded to the incident, which also resulted in the destruction of three fire engines and two fire officer cars.
The explosion, heard across the county, is thought to have originated from the unit, which housed fertilizer. Of the twenty hospitalized firefighters, four were treated for minor injuries, while the remainder were assessed for hearing loss. All have since been discharged, according to Rick Hylton, chief fire officer at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.
An aerial view of the scene showed the extensive nature of the fire, which required a significant response from fire crews.