A massive explosion at Highlands Farm in East Hanningfield, Essex, destroyed three fire engines and two officer vehicles after a blaze engulfed industrial units on Monday, sending 20 firefighters to hospital and prompting Essex County Fire and Rescue Service to declare a major incident.
Emergency crews said the explosion, caused by fertiliser stored inside one of the burning buildings, occurred less than an hour after the first emergency calls were received. The incident followed reports of a rapidly spreading fire at industrial units along Southend Road, between East Hanningfield and Rettendon, at about 4.50 pm.
