Large explosion and fire at industrial unit in Essex triggers major incident
A large explosion and fire at an industrial unit in Essex has triggered a major incident and mass evacuation.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A large explosion and fire at an industrial unit in Essex has triggered a major incident, with around 100 firefighters deployed to tackle the blaze. The incident occurred near Rettendon, south of Chelmsford, at around 5pm on Thursday. The explosion was caused by fertiliser stored in one of the units, according to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. The blast was felt many miles away and sent debris flying into surrounding fields, setting them alight.
Twenty firefighters were taken to hospital following the explosion, but all have since been discharged. The fire also destroyed three fire engines and two officer cars that were responding to the incident, underlining the intensity of the conditions faced by crews. A major incident was declared by Essex Fire and Rescue, and the East of England Ambulance Service called it a significant incident.
Residents living near the industrial estate were evacuated as a precaution, with a shelter set up at a nearby memorial hall. Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud explosion and seeing a plume of smoke visible for miles. One man who was around 30 metres away said gravel flew past him. The fire service said the blaze was under control by the evening, but firefighters remained on scene throughout the weekend to monitor hotspots. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One | ITV |
|---|---|---|
| Around 100 firefighters were tackling the fire at its peak. | ||
| The explosion occurred around 4:50-5pm near Rettendon. | ||
| The fire broke out around 4:50-5:00 p.m. on July 24, 2026. | ||
| 20 firefighters attended hospital and were later discharged. | · | |
| An evacuation shelter was set up at the Memorial Hall. | · | |
| The explosion was caused by fertiliser stored in one of the units. | · | |
| The fire service declared a major incident and said the fire was under control. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC ONE West focused on the dramatic eyewitness accounts and the scale of the destruction, including the explosion, flying debris, and the impact on nearby fields. The report emphasised the visual and sensory details of the event, such as the smoke plume and the sound of pops and bangs, but did not mention the cause of the explosion or the number of firefighters injured.
- “People living nearby have described seeing smoke for a few minutes before hearing this explosion at around 5 p.m.”
- “one man who was around 30 meters away said gravel flew past him”
- “Buildings vehicles and a mast have been completely destroyed and flying debris has set fire to Surrounding fields”
ITV1 provided a more detailed and evolving account, with the first segment focusing on the ongoing fire, resident reactions, and evacuation, while the second segment revealed the cause (exploding fertiliser) and the impact on firefighters, including 20 hospitalised and three fire engines destroyed. The tone was factual and update-oriented, highlighting the scale of the incident and the response.
- “The fire broke out at ten to five this afternoon near Rettendon, south of Chelmsford.”
- “caused by exploding fertilizer stored in one of the units.”
- “20 firefighters attended hospital following the incident, according to the chief fire officer at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.