Huge fire tearing through recycling plant ‘could last the entire weekend’

A massive fire ripping through a recycling centre in Basildon, Essex may take the entire weekend to put out.

The centre on Hovefields Avenue went up in flames at around 1.15am this morning and 10 fire crews have been at the scene since.

While fire officials say they are ‘scaling back’ the operation, the fire will be alight for at least two days.

The 50 metres by 40 metres large complex includes warehouses and about 15 vehicles that have been engulfed by the blaze.

Locals have been urged to keep their doors and windows closed (Picture: Essex Fire Service

The recycling is blocking access to some parts of the building (Picture: Essex Fire Service)

Motorists driving along the A127 between the Nevendon interchange and Rayleigh Spur roundabout today are also urged to take care.

The cause of the fire is unclear.

‘Site staff are using a digger to move and break up the recycling so our crews can extinguish it,’ Group Manager Steve Wintrip said.

‘This will be a long process and we expect to be on-site for at least another 48 hours.

‘It will also continue to create a lot of smoke, so we would urge residents in Basildon and Wickford to keep doors and windows closed.’

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