20 Nov 2012
Firefighters have successfully tackled a large blaze involving 160,000 litres of cooking oil at a recycling yard in Essex, according to reports.
Crews were called to the scene in Little Warley near Brentwood at around 5.15am on November 20, with additional support drafted in from London to bring the inferno under control.
Some 65 firefighters were dealing with the incident at its peak, which reportedly involved 160,000 litres of cooking oil, 30,000 litres of diesel and 30,000 tonnes of paper sending large plumes of fire into the air.
The Environment Agency and various utility companies were called in to help evacuate neighbouring properties before crews were able to contain the blaze at around 10.40am.
A fire service statement read: “Only small pockets of fire remain.
“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using one hose reel and one foam branch as they extinguish the final pockets.”
Incident commander divisional officer Mark Samuels added: “This is a recycling yard that recycles various types of used oils, hence the intensity of the fire.
“We are in the final stages of tackling the blaze, although we expect to be on the scene for several hours.”
Copyright Press Association 2012