A large fire broke out at an industrial estate in High Ongar, Essex, late last night, prompting urgent advice for local residents to keep windows and doors closed. Twelve fire crews were dispatched to the scene on Woolmongers Lane shortly after 11pm on Thursday, July 9, 2026, after reports of a blaze engulfing industrial units, vehicles, and mobile homes.
Firefighters Battle Blaze with Limited Water
Essex Fire and Rescue Service crews faced significant challenges due to limited water supplies in the area. Station Manager Scott Fretton stated: 'Crews have worked really hard with a limited water supply to surround the fire and we’re now in a position to start scaling this incident down. We’ll scale it down to eight crews initially and we anticipate being here for several hours.'
Dramatic footage showed one of the barns fully alight, with flames visible through the structure. The barn appeared to contain farming or industrial cylinders, which could explode as they burn, causing loud bangs. Fretton added: 'You might see lots of smoke as it starts to get lighter throughout the morning and hear some bangs coming from the scene as there are cylinders involved.'
Residents Urged to Take Precautions
Residents living near Woolmonger Lane in High Ongar have been advised to keep windows and doors shut to avoid smoke inhalation. The smoke is expected to continue billowing into the air and surrounding areas throughout the day. The fire service has not reported any injuries at this time.
Crews are also contending with hot weather conditions, as temperatures in nearby Chipping Ongar are forecast to reach 30°C on Friday, with 25°C expected by 9am. A week-long heatwave has been affecting Essex, London, and the South East, with no significant rainfall expected for at least another week before cooler, thundery weather arrives.
Recent Similar Incident in Edinburgh
The Essex fire comes just a day after a major blaze destroyed a former Debenhams building in Edinburgh. The iconic Victorian structure was gutted, with fire ripping through the roof and top floors, leaving the rest of the building charred and blackened.
Essex Fire and Rescue Service continues to monitor the situation in High Ongar, with crews expected to remain on site for several hours to ensure the fire is fully extinguished.
