Residents living near the area between the settlements of East Hanningfield and Rettendon are urged to keep windows and doors closed. Images from the scene show a huge column of black smoke and open flames visible above the building.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service also urged people to avoid the area.
Colin Neale Jr. said he was driving on the A13 near Dagenham when he noticed huge clouds of smoke. As he got closer, he realized how big the fire was, so he flew a drone over the surrounding fields.
According to him, drone footage shows that the fire spread to several fields and appears to have affected two industrial complexes.
A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service confirmed that a hazardous incident response team had been dispatched to the scene.
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Dave Bond, District Commander for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, said the incident had been declared a major incident due to the scale of the fire.
“A large amount of smoke is still rising, so we urge people to stay away from the area while firefighting efforts continue,” he said.
According to Bond, firefighters have already managed to surround the fire, but the public is asked for patience until the fire is completely extinguished and the incident is concluded.
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No injuries have been reported in the fire so far.
