Fire at recycling centre

Update: Sunday 15 September, 8pm

Firefighting operations are expected to continue in Hovefields Avenue, Basildon, for at least five more days.

During the daytime, crews are working with on-site staff to break up and extinguish piles of recycling materials. Crews are also keeping a watching brief at the site overnight.

A large amount of smoke will be produced as firefighting operations continue.

If you live or work in the area, you may see the smoke and notice the odour. The risk is minimal but we would advise you to keep your doors and windows closed, and to take extra care on the A127 alongside the site due to the risk of smoke blowing across the carriageway.

We are in regular contact with the agencies to monitor the situation. In addition, we are monitoring the wind direction. We will let residents and business know if our advice changes.

We would like to thank residents and businesses for their patience while we bring this incident to a safe conclusion.

Advice from UK Health and Security Agency:

• Any smoke can be an irritant. If people need to be outdoors, they are advised to avoid outside areas affected by any smoke or ash, or to limit the time that they spend in them.
• Motorists who have to travel through the smoke should keep windows closed, turn off air conditioning and keep their air vents closed.

Update: Sunday 15 September, 8am

Two crews remained at the recycling centre in Hovefields Avenue, Basildon overnight to keep the fire under control.

Three crews will work with on-site staff through the day to continue to extinguish the burning piles of materials.

This will produce large amounts of smoke, so please continue to keep your doors and windows closed if you live in the Basildon area, and take extra care on the A127.

Update: Saturday 14 September, 1.30pm

We are expecting large amounts of smoke in the area of the incident in Hovefields Avenue, Basildon over the next few days.

Station Manager Nick Singleton said: "Crews are making good progress but the incident is creating a lot of smoke. This will be the case over the next few days, so please bear with us while we bring in the incident to safe conclusion.

"The wind direction keeps changing so please keep your doors and windows closed if you live in or around Basildon. Also, take extra care on the A127, which runs along the site in question, because smoke is blowing across the carriageway."

Four crews are at the scene, working with on-site staff to pull apart and extinguish piles of recycling.

Update: Saturday 14 September, 9am

The incident has been scaled back to five crews, however we expect to remain on scene throughout the weekend.

Group Manager Steve Wintrip said: "Site staff are using a digger to move and break up the recycling so our crews can

extinguish it.

"This will be a long process and we expect to be on site for at least another 48 hours.

"It will also continue to create a lot of smoke, so we would urge residents in Basildon and Wickford to keep doors and windows closed."

Update: Saturday 14 September, 6.20am

Crews are continuing to make good progress in tackling a fire at a recycling centre in Basildon.

Group Manager Dave Bond said: "Residents and motorists in the area will see large plumes of smoke over the next few hours as crews continue to extinguish the fire.

"Please keep your doors and windows closed. Take extra care on the roads, but avoid the area if you can."

Crews are tackling a fire at a recycling centre in Basildon.

We were called to Hovefields Avenue today (14 September) at 1.15am and two crews from Basildon attended.

They found a unit approximately 50 metres by 40 metres, including warehouses and about 15 vehicles, fully alight and ten additional crews were requested.

Crews from Billericay, Canvey, Corringham, Grays (two), Leigh, Orsett, Rayleigh Weir, Southend and Wickford, and two Aerial Ladder Platforms, are at the scene.

Area Manager Craig McLellan said: "Crews are working extremely hard with site owners to remove vehicles and cylinders from the scene.

"We ask people to avoid the area while crews work to extinguish the fire."

Due to smoke in the area, anyone living near the incident is advised to keep their doors and windows closed, and motorists using the A127 between the Nevendon interchange and Rayleigh Spur roundabout are urged to take extra care.