PHOTOS: Fire at recycling centre

Update 7:30am

Crews worked throughout the evening with site staff to extinguish the fire and left the scene at 1:30am.

Firefighters will revisit the site at 8:30am to make sure the scene is still safe.

Watch Manager Dan Hart from Southend Fire Station said: “We want to send our thanks to the staff that worked with us throughout this large incident, particularly on the machinery.

“They made a huge contribution and without them crews would have been in attendance for days. They have saved the service a significant amount of resource and we are really grateful for their help.”

Update 10:30pm

The incident has been scaled down to two fire crews who will remain throughout the night to extinguish the fire in sections. 

Firefighters are continuing to work with site staff using diggers to move the waste and extinguish it in sections to protect surrounding risks.

Update 8pm

The incident has been scaled down to three fire crews.

Firefighters are continuing to work with site staff to use cranes to remove the waste and extinguish it in sections.

We expect the scene to remain smoke logged throughout the evening. If you suspect another fire in the area, please dial 999 as usual.

Update 6:45pm

Firefighters are working with staff at the recycling centre using cranes to remove rubbish from the pile to extinguish it in sections. 

Firefighters are currently at the scene of a fire at a recycling centre in Purdeys Way, Rochford.

If you live nearby, please keep your windows and doors shut as lots of smoke is coming from the scene.

We received 15 calls to a fire at a recycling centre and crews from Southend and Leigh were sent.

On arrival, firefighters requested a further three crews from Leigh, Hawkwell and Shoeburyness fire stations to assist with the fire which was affecting approximately 150 tonnes of refuse.

Firefighters are extinguishing the fire in sections.

This is an ongoing incident and we will provide updates when we can.

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