PHOTOS: Sixteen crews working to extinguish large field fire
Update as at 8am on 14/08/22 - aerial photos added
This incident has been updated with aerial images taken from our drone, which we used at the scene to enable our firefighters to see what has happening from above so they could get ahead of the fire.
Crews were called back to the scene at 9.36am on Saturday 13 August with reports of multiple tree stumps smouldering.
This incident has now been closed.
In total we used 12 hose reel jets, two off road vehicles and a large number of beaters and back pack sprayers to deal with the fire.
A full list of attendance here over the past few days is listed below.
3 x Chelmsford plus off road vehicle, 1 x Rayleigh Weir, 1 x Brentwood, 1 x Basildon, 1 x Witham plus incident command vehicle, 1 x Grays, 1 x Leaden Roding, 1 x Shoeburyness, 1 x Stansted plus off road vehicle, 1 x Corringham water tanker, 1 x Braintree, 2 x Maldon, 2 x Southend, 2 x USAR Lexden, 1 x Rochford, 1 x Wickford, 1 x Manningtree off road, 1 x Great Baddow, 1 x Orsett.
Update as at 10.55am on 13/08/22
We’d like to say a huge thank you to residents in Chelmsford for their support whilst our crews tackled the large field fire in Broomfield yesterday afternoon.
The fire was put out at 6.16pm. However, one crew from Chelmsford has returned this morning at 8.42am to monitor the area and will remain on scene for the time being.
Incident Commander, Group Manager Dan Partridge, said: “This was one of the largest field fires we have seen in the county this year but by getting our resources there quickly, we could put a weight of attack against it and stop it from spreading to nearby houses, saving three properties one of which was thatched.
“The crews and our control room team did a great job and the support from the public was incredible.
"People lined up and clapped in our fire crews as they arrived, they gave us bottles of water, and farmers used quad bikes to deliver our firefighters supplies across the field. It was a real multi agency team effort with colleagues from Essex Police and the ambulance service there, working together. Police provided aerial footage with their helicopter so we could see what was happening from above and get ahead of the fire, and ambulance colleagues assisted us with welfare for our firefighters. It was very hot and there wasn’t any injuries but it was great to have their support on scene if we needed them.”
Some properties in the area were evacuated by police as a precautionary measure at the start of the incident, but the fire changed direction.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established but we believe it to be accidental.
Firefighters are currently at the scene of a large field fire in Hollow Lane, Broomfield.
Sixteen crews have been working to extinguish a field fire affecting approximately 37 hectares of stubble and hedgerows.
Firefighters have contained the fire and are working to extinguish it.
Crews have been working with local farmers to dampen down surrounding hedgerows to prevent the fire from spreading further and towards local houses.
One outbuilding was affected by the fire and crews worked to prevent it spreading to a nearby house.
Area Manager Danny Bruin said: “Crews have worked tirelessly while they’ve been here since 2pm in very hot temperatures. They’ve managed to protect surrounding properties. The fire is under control and we’re currently monitoring hotspots.
“We’re looking to release crews soon and are in a position to scale this incident down. We expect to remain on scene for a few more hours if you could continue to avoid the area please. A fire investigation will take place to establish what caused the fire.
“The farmers have been on the field supporting us and we’d like to thank them for their help in these hot conditions. Thank you to our police, ambulance and Salvation Army colleagues who are all here supporting us, keeping people safe and keeping everyone hydrated. It’s been a good team effort.”
In hot and dry weather, people can help prevent fires if they:
- Don’t have bonfires/campfires
- Don’t have barbecues
- Make sure cigarettes are put out properly
- Don’t leave glass bottles in the sun
Could you be an on-call firefighter?
Many of the firefighters who attended this incident are on-call firefighters, who live or work within 5 minutes of the station and are paid to protect their community.
If you live or work within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station, you could be an on-call firefighter too.
Find out more about the role and how to apply at join.essex-fire.gov.uk/on-call
