SIX fire crews have successfully put out a large blaze involving five fuel tankers at an industrial estate in Purfleet.

The fire broke out in Botany Way just after 9.44pm last night and has seen firefighters from Grays, Corringham, Brentwood, Orsett, Rayleigh Weir and Chelmsford arrive to battle it.

Footage supplied by Mark Dyson, a lorry driver who was nearby showed the lorries, containing more than 45,000 litres of fuel, becoming engulfed in flames.

As a result, all c2c train services passing through the area were cancelled.

Essex Police were at the scene to provide a safe corden around the incident, and have lauched the force helicopter to assist.

A spokesman for the force warned residents nearby to keep their windows closed while crews work on the fire.

An Essex Fire and Rescue Service spokesman confirmed the fire has now been extinguished and crews had left the scene by 3.30am. 

Martyn Hare , the incident commander, the investigation is still going on and is not being treated as suspicious.

Mr Hare says the service believes it was caused by an electrical fault.

He said: "When we arrived at the incident we found all five fuel lorries well alight. The smoke could been seen from miles away, and we immediately ordered our specialist appliances including the foam unit to help tackle the fire.

"A total of five fuel lorries were involved with the fire. One lorry was empty, the other four lorries had a combined load of 45,000 litres of fuel (diesel and kereosene).

"Our priorities were to contain the fire and not let it spread to the surrounding area. We also had to make sure we contained the water running off the fire to minimalise the impact on the environment.

Brentwood Live:

Aftermath - The tankers following the fire (pic from Essex Fire and Rescue Service)

"Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire extremely quickly. We used foam to tackle the fire as it forms a blanket like cover over the fire and suffocates it which helps to extinguish it quickly.

"Once the fire was extinguished and we had extinguished most of the hot spots we were able to reduce the number of fire engines at the scene.

"An investigation will take place to establish the cause of the fire".

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