UK industrial fire: Essex fertiliser explosion injures 20 firefighters, destroys 3 fire engines

Essex County Fire chief Rick Hylton 20 firefighters were taken to hospital after a massive fire at an industrial unit in Essex triggered a fertiliser explosion, destroying three fire engines and two fire service vehicles.Authorities said four firefighters suffered minor injuries while the rest were treated as a precaution before being discharged, Sky News reported.Fertiliser explosion destroys emergency vehiclesThe blaze broke out at around 4.50 pm on Friday at Highlands Farm on Southend Road between East Hanningfield and Rettendon. Firefighters responding to the incident were met with a fast-moving fire that spread to a fertiliser storage area, where a powerful explosion occurred.Essex Chief Fire Officer Rick Hylton said the blast destroyed three fire engines and two fire officer cars, underscoring the intensity of the incident."The fire and explosion destroyed three fire engines and two officer cars that were being used to respond to the incident. This underlines the scale and intensity of the conditions our crews faced," Hylton said.20 firefighters hospitalised, all dischargedHylton said 20 firefighters attended hospital following the incident. Four sustained minor injuries, whi...