Essex Explosion: 25 Firefighters Remain At East Hanningfield Industrial Fire

Twenty firefighters were taken to hospital after fertiliser exploded during a major industrial fire near East Hanningfield. All have been discharged, but the site remains under a strict cordon and the cause has not been established.

The Health and Safety Executive has formally opened an investigation into the fire and explosion at Highlands Farm near East Hanningfield, as residents and businesses wait to learn when they can return to affected properties.

The workplace safety regulator confirmed on Thursday, 30 July, that it was examining whether any health and safety breaches contributed to the original fire, the subsequent explosion or the emergency response at the industrial site on Southend Road.

HSE inspectors are making enquiries with residents, examining the scene and working with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police. Specialists will enter the site when it has been made sufficiently safe, but no timetable has been announced for the investigation’s findings.

Chelmsford City Council said in an update published on Friday, 31 July, that the area remained under a strict cordon and that a no-fly zone, including a ban on drones, was still in force. There was also no confirmed timescale for residents or businesses to regain access, with re-entry expected to depend on the location and condition of individual properties.

Twenty firefighters taken to hospital

The fire service received its first calls at 4.50pm on Friday, 24 July, after flames broke out among industrial units at Highlands Farm, between East Hanningfield and Rettendon.

Firefighters arrived to find a rapidly developing blaze affecting several buildings and surrounding farmland. At 5.46pm, fertiliser stored inside one of the units exploded, leading the service to declare a major incident and deploy more than 100 firefighters at the height of the response.

Twenty firefighters attended hospital following the blast. Four suffered minor injuries, while the other 16 underwent precautionary assessments, including checks for possible hearing loss. All were subsequently discharged.

Three fire engines and two fire officer cars were destroyed while being used at the scene. Chief Fire Officer Rick Hylton described the blaze as one of the most challenging and complex incidents the Essex service had faced in recent years.

Crews remained at Highlands Farm after the main fire was brought under control to cool hotspots and prevent secondary fires from spreading into nearby fields. Fifteen firefighters were still at the site overnight on Sunday, 26 July, as strong winds and tinder-dry farmland complicated the operation.

Officials have confirmed that fertiliser was involved in the explosion, but that does not establish what caused the original fire. The fire service and HSE have warned against speculation while their enquiries continue.

Cordon remains as recovery support begins

The UK Health Security Agency has assessed the overall public-health risk from smoke and debris as low. However, residents who find material from the fire have been advised not to sweep or vacuum it because doing so could create dust. Larger pieces can be handled with protective gloves, double-bagged and placed in a black bin or taken to a household recycling centre.

People who experienced smoke-related coughing, sore throats, watery eyes or mild breathing difficulties were told that symptoms should improve after leaving the affected area. Anyone whose symptoms continue should contact their GP or NHS 111.

Chelmsford City Council has established a dedicated helpline for residents and businesses directly affected by the fire. It has also announced an emergency grant scheme offering limited short-term assistance towards immediate recovery and business-continuity costs.

Displaced companies can apply for temporary workspace at the council’s Coval Co-Working Space and receive a free session with a business recovery adviser. Businesses whose buildings were destroyed or substantially damaged have also been advised to contact the Valuation Office Agency about possible removal from the business-rates list.

The council is advising affected property owners to contact their insurers first. Its support line is open between 8.45am and 4.45pm on 01245 605748, while enquiries can also be sent to Highlands.Support@chelmsford.gov.uk.

The investigation must now establish how the initial fire began, why it reached the stored fertiliser and whether workplace safety failures contributed to the explosion. Until the scene examination is completed, no official cause has been confirmed.