300 Tonnes Of Scrap Metal On Fire in Basildon

29 July 2014, 07:53 | Updated: 29 July 2014, 08:09

Crews were called to a fire at a recycling plant in Basildon, just after 1am.

It broke out on Hovefields Avenue.

Crews reported that 40 percent of 300 tonnes of scrap metal was on fire.  The area alight measured approximately 30 x 30 metres and was 10 metres high.

Crews used the aerial ladder platform and foam to attack the fire, four jets and two ground monitors were also used to tackle the blaze.

At 04:24hrs: Crews reported that steady progress was being made to tackle the fire. A four pump relief took over at this time to continue to extinguish the fire.

At 05:17hrs: A mechanical digger on site was used to move the scrap metal to reach any remaining hotspots.

The fire was extinguished by 06:40hrs, more than five hours after it started.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage, ECFRS and the police will carry out an investigation.