Firefighters are battling a major blaze at an industrial estate in High Ongar, Essex, with limited water supplies after flames engulfed industrial units, vehicles, and mobile homes. The fire broke out on Woolmongers Lane shortly after 11pm on July 9, 2026, and 12 fire crews responded to the scene.
Residents warned about smoke and potential explosions
Residents are urged to keep windows and doors shut as smoke continues to billow into the air. Firefighters warned that some cylinders at the site could explode, causing loud bangs. Station Manager Scott Fretton of Essex Fire and Rescue Service said: '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.'
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. If you live in High Ongar near Woolmonger Lane, please keep your windows and doors shut.'
Heatwave compounds firefighting efforts
Crews are facing gruelling conditions as temperatures are expected to reach 30°C in Chipping Ongar, with 25°C by 9am. A week-long heatwave has gripped Essex, London, and the South East, with no significant rainfall forecast for at least another week before cooler, thundery weather arrives.
The fire comes after a separate blaze at an old Debenhams building in Edinburgh, which gutted the iconic Victorian structure. The Edinburgh fire ripped through the roof and top floors, leaving the building blackened and charred.
Ongoing response and safety advice
Fire crews remain at the scene and expect to be there for several hours. Residents are advised to continue keeping windows and doors closed and to avoid the area. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
