Three fire engines destroyed in blaze and explosion in Essex, fire chief says

Three fire engines are destroyed after a fire and subsequent explosion in Essex, a fire chief says. The incident occurs on Friday evening at Southend Road, located between East Hanningfield and Rettendon. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service responds to reports of a fire in the area and arrives at the scene, according to reports. The fire develops into an event that includes an explosion, leading to the destruction of three appliances. The available reporting does not provide details on any casualties, the cause of the fire, or the extent of damage beyond the loss of the fire engines. Both outlets describe the same location and response timeline, citing the fire chief’s account of the damage. Further information is not included in the provided excerpts.