Fire in a disused warehouse

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire in a disused warehouse in South Benfleet late last night (Tuesday).

On arrival, crews found the warehouse, which was split into three units, with flames reaching around 30 feet above the roof. 

One of the units was completely alight and the roof had collapsed. Firefighters worked quickly to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to the other units and beyond the building.

Crews tackled the fire from the ground and from above using an aerial ladder platform. They also used a drone to provide a live aerial view of the incident, giving the incident commander vital information to direct resources effectively.

By 2.30am, the incident commander reported that good progress was being made to bring the fire under control. By 3.35am, the fire was confirmed to be out.

Although the affected unit was completely destroyed, thanks to the skill and swift action of crews, the rest of the building was saved.

Crews remained at the scene for some time afterwards to check for hotspots and make sure the area was completely safe.

Watch Manager Darryl Worster, from Basildon Fire Station, praised firefighters for their efforts. He said:

“Crews did a fantastic job in very challenging conditions. Their hard work, skill, and quick actions prevented the fire from spreading further and causing even more damage.”

A fire investigation was carried out and found the fire was started deliberate.