Latest news with #EssexFireService
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Crews tackle three field fires in one day
Fire crews from 19 stations tackled three large field fires in one day across a county. Essex Fire Service said on Friday it attended blazes in Grays, Rayleigh and Witham. Two people have been arrested on suspicion of arson over the fire near Amersham Court, Rayleigh, and remained in custody, Essex Police said. At the time of the incident some roads were temporarily closed in the area and smoke was seen blowing over the A129 and A1245. At 09:53 BST the service was called to reports that 37 acres (15 hectares) of standing crop was alight in Stifford Clays, Grays. At 15:38 it was called to a seven-acre (three hectares) fire on Amersham Court, Rayleigh, where one outbuilding was damaged. Crews were later called to Conrad Road, Witham, at 17:21, to put out a 74-acre (30 hectares) field fire. All three fires were put out, the fire service confirmed. Group manager Marc Diggory said crews in Rayleigh "worked hard to extinguish the fire and stop it from spreading to nearby properties". He confirmed it spread to one outbuilding but no-one was injured. Essex Police said its investigation was "in the early stages". It appealed for anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward. The recent warm weather had increased the risk of wildfires, the fire service said. It asked that people reduce the risk of further incidents by stubbing out cigarettes and disposing of them properly. It also asked people to avoid lighting campfires or barbecues in the countryside. "If you do, make sure they are fully extinguished before you dispose of them," the service said. "Never leave barbecues or bonfires unattended and discard your rubbish, especially glass bottles, responsibly." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Large grass fire at airstrip burns 37 acres 'Intentional' nature reserve fires could cost £100k Bonfire warning after flames spread through gardens Related internet links Essex County Fire & Rescue Service Essex Police
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Essex crews tackle three large field fires in just one day
Fire crews from 19 stations tackled three large field fires in one day across a county. Essex Fire Service said on Friday it attended blazes in Grays, Rayleigh and the time of the incident roads were closed in the area and smoke was seen blowing over the A129 and three fires were put out, the fire service confirmed. At 09:53 BST the service was called to reports that 37 acres (15 hectares) of standing crop was alight in Stifford Clays, Grays. At 15:38 it was called to a seven-acre (three hectares) fire on Amersham Court, Rayleigh, where one outbuilding was damaged. Crews were later called to Conrad Road, Witham, at 17:21, to put out a 74-acre (30 hectares) field fire. Group manager Marc Diggory said crews in Rayleigh "worked hard to extinguish the fire and stop it from spreading to nearby properties". He confirmed it spread to one outbuilding but no-one was injured. The recent warm weather had increased the risk of wildfires, the fire service said. It asked that people reduce the risk of further incidents by stubbing out cigarettes and disposing of them properly. It also asked people to avoid lighting campfires or barbecues in the countryside. "If you do, make sure they are fully extinguished before you dispose of them," the service said. "Never leave barbecues or bonfires unattended and discard your rubbish, especially glass bottles, responsibly." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Grass fire at Barling Airstrip in Essex extinguished
A large grass fire at an airstrip has been extinguished by Fire Service was called to the site at Barling Magna, near Southend, at 14:17 BST on Tuesday and had put it out by 20: 37 acres (15 hectares) of grassland was alight, with six crews tackling the flames at the height of the returned overnight and in the morning to check for hotspots and carry out damping down. Southend Airport reopens after Sunday's fatal plane crashThe service said an investigation would take place to establish the cause of the fire, near Little Wakering Creek. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Intentional' fire at Maldon nature reserve did £100k of damage
The chair of a nature reserve said damage caused by a spate of deliberate fires could cost £100, crews who fought the latest blaze at the Chelmer Blackwater Reserve in Maldon, Essex, believe it was started intentionally - and suspect two other fires nearby were also Ellum, chair of the Chelmer Blackwater Community Interest Company (CIC), which manages the reserve, said it was "absolutely devastating"."The overall cost of putting in the [reserve's] walkways and the bridge has been in the region of £100,000, it will cost most of that to restore it." Mr Ellum said the CIC would have to consider how to go about restoration "because of the risk of this happening again".He added: "The wildlife has obviously been badly affected by it, the field over there where the main fire started had a very large number of voles in it, we don't know how they have fared. "The reedbed has been partly damaged over here, which was an important breeding ground for birds."He said the reserve has more than 200 shareholders who would also feel distraught. The first fire was on 3 July. There was another on Saturday, and then a third on Eaglestone, a group manager with the Essex Fire Service, said all three were "believed to have been started deliberately".He added: "It puts lives at risk, causes significant damage to local wildlife and habitats, and ties up emergency resources that may be needed elsewhere. "These types of incidents are not only reckless, they are criminal."The CIC's secretary, Jonathan Wood, said he witnessed Monday's fire."We could see it just traveling and despite the efforts of the fire brigade - who have been marvellous in this - you could see the wind taking the fire and once it caught the trees that was it," he said the thought it was arson was "a very uncomfortable feeling"."You just wonder why people are so reckless," he added Retired teacher Alison Brown said she was "absolutely gutted"."We see the fens, the lovely fens, lots of greenery and the little pontoons and the bridges that you could walk across - and it's all gone."Kirsty, 45, also a teacher, said she often took her dog for walks around the reserve."There's lots of black bits in our garden."It's just beautiful area and it's such a shame, really sad, but they [the firefighters] did really, really well to keep it contained in that area."Louise, who was also walking by, said: "The smell is horrible isn't it?"We're even more horrified that there's someone on the loose that's going to do that."People spent so much time and effort on this, it's a charity so everyone's disgusted."The Essex Fire Service has urged people to contact the police if they see someone acting suspiciously in rural or woodland can also be given anonymously by visiting or calling 0800 169 5558. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Fire in New England, Essex, is extinguished after four hours
Firefighters overcame a "limited" water supply to extinguish 100 tonnes of waste that caught flames broke out in the village of New England, near Great Yeldham in Essex, at about 00:20 BST on Wednesday."Crews were faced with a large pile of general waste, approximately 20 metres by 20 metres [65ft by 65ft], fully alight," the Essex fire service blaze in Sturmer Road was extinguished after four hours and its cause was undetermined, a spokesman added. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
