Update: 0900 hrs
CREWS report that the fire is now out. Firefighters in breathing apparatus are working inside the static bungalow cutting away parts of the roof to ensure all of the hotspots are fully extinguished and are expected to remain on site for some time yet.
Assistant Divisional Officer Martyn Hodder said: “The fire broke out on a site where fairground families are living. The fire involved a mobile caravan and a neighbouring static bungalow, as well as a nearby fuel tank which ruptured spilling fuel which also ignited.
“An elderly female resident was treated for the affects of smoke inhalation very early on in the fire but fortunately there were no other casualties.
“The fire broke out in the mobile caravan and quickly spread to the nearby bungalow. Firefighters did an excellent job in bringing the family’s valuable possessions out of the bungalow to protect them from fire and then in containing flames within the building. Although the caravan was destroyed, the bungalow is only 25 per cent fire damaged and was saved.
“Crews were hindered by a lack of water. The water bowser is part of the normal attendance for this site because of the known shortage of water so that was sent to the scene immediately the call came in and once it arrived was put into use immediately.
“The fire has been out for about 30 minutes. The work remaining is in the roof structure of the bungalow where crews are using small tools to cut away in the eves to make sure all hotspots are out.”
We have no information relating to the cause of the incident at this stage.
Update: 0800hrs
The incident commander reports that the incident has now been sectorised and that the water bowser has been set up and is in operation as crews, wearing breathing apparatus, work to bring the fire under control.
Firefighting operations continue. More details to follow.
0700 hrs
FIRE CREWS are using four hose reels to tackle a blaze involving two mobile homes.
The incident occurred at Clarence Way, Buckles Lane, South Ockendon.
Initially two appliances were sent to the scene and then shortly afterwards a third. With a shortage of water in the area, the water bowser from Chelmsford was also ordered to the scene along with a hose layer from Rayleigh Weir.
At 06:18 hrs, the incident commander reported that a shortage of water was hampering firefighting operations and a fourth appliance was requested.
Crews report that the fire had spread from one mobile home to a second with the complication of a fuel tank close by.
Firefighting operations continue.
More details to follow.
