06 September 2025 , 10:38
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A huge blaze broke out at an industrial site in Witham, Essex on Saturday evening, sending plumes of thick black smoke billowing across the sky.
The fire, which erupted around 4:40pm on Eastways near a railway line, quickly tore through a large industrial building measuring roughly 80 by 50 metres. Essex County Fire & Rescue Service dispatched crews from nine stations, with around 90 firefighters tackling the flames at the height of the incident.
Dramatic footage posted on social media showed bright orange flames engulfing the site as grey smoke could be seen from miles away. Shocked residents took to X (formerly Twitter) to share images of the fire, with one user writing: “This doesn’t look right at Witham.”
Emergency services confirmed that no injuries had been reported. However, residents living nearby were urged to keep doors and windows closed due to the heavy smoke.
Fire service group manager Ben Turner said crews were expected to remain on site throughout the night:
“We anticipate being here into the early hours. Once the situation is safe, we’ll carry out a full investigation alongside police to establish the cause of the fire,” he said.
The fire affected at least two units within the industrial estate, though Greater Anglia confirmed that rail services were not disrupted.
Drone footage captured the extent of the damage, with multiple fire engines and crews working in tandem to contain the inferno.
Eastways remained closed to traffic as firefighters, supported by UK Power Networks, surrounded the building to prevent the flames from spreading further.
Authorities praised the patience of locals and urged continued caution until the site is declared safe.
Huge fire at Eastways Industrial Estate, Witham, Essex.
— YEDIS DRONE SHOTS (@yedisdroneshots) September 5, 2025
Over 90 firefighters from 11 surrounding fire stations have been deployed to the scene
Stations in attendance: -
Witham
Colchester
Chelmsford
Wivenhoe
Hawkwell
Billericay
Brightlingsea
Halstead
Wickford
Ongar
Tiptree… pic.twitter.com/RSnb379b09
Editor-in-Chief