Emergency services are responding to a significant fire reported in the Braintree area of Essex on Thursday, with multiple fire engines and specialist crews deployed to the scene as firefighters work to bring the situation under control.
Residents reported seeing thick smoke rising over parts of the town earlier in the day, prompting a rapid response from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. Several fire appliances were dispatched, along with support units tasked with containing the blaze and ensuring public safety.
Crews have been working at the scene for an extended period, with operations focused on preventing the fire from spreading to nearby structures and surrounding areas.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact location or type of building affected, but eyewitness accounts suggest a heavy emergency presence and restricted access in parts of the affected zone.
Police have assisted firefighters by securing nearby roads and establishing a cordon to keep members of the public at a safe distance. Drivers and pedestrians have been advised to avoid the area while emergency operations continue. Local traffic disruptions have been reported, with delays affecting surrounding routes as emergency vehicles move in and out of the scene.
At this stage, the cause of the fire has not been determined. Fire investigators are expected to begin examining the site once it has been deemed safe to enter. Officials have also not released information regarding possible injuries or damage, and it remains unclear whether any residents or workers were inside the affected property when the fire broke out.
Authorities have urged residents in nearby areas to keep windows closed if they are affected by smoke and to follow any safety instructions issued by emergency services.
Local residents described seeing a strong smell of smoke and emergency sirens shortly after the fire was first reported, with some saying the response was one of the largest they have seen in the area. Fire crews remain on scene as efforts continue to fully extinguish the blaze and ensure there are no remaining hotspots. Updates are expected from emergency services once the situation is brought under control.