Update: 08:10hrs:
THE INVESTIGATION HAS begun, residents are returning home and starting to clear up after the massive fire at the car scrapyard in Hume Avenue last night.
Many residents whose homes were evacuated stayed with family and friends. Others stayed at the Gateway Academy.
The fire was extinguished by 02:13hrs. Fire crews left the incident at 05:37hrs and the incident was left in the care of the police. The acetylene cylinders had vented off and all was cool at the scene.
The 200 metre exclusion zone is no longer in place and residents are allowed to go back to their properties.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage, ECFRS and the police will carry out an investigation.
0645hrs; OVER SIXTY Tilbury residents woke up in the Gateway Academy school this morning having had their homes evacuated after a massive fire in the Hume Avenue scrapyard.
The fire started at just after 7pm last night. Over 15 fire appliances fought the fire. (For full details see article below)
Residents were invited to stay at the Gateway Academy where the schools gym became the home for the night. Volunteer staff from Thurrock Council worked through the night as part of the emergency command team backing up the police and the fire service.
By daybreak, an exclusion zone was set up around the area.
Incident Commander-Divisional Officer Gary Jeffery said: “At the present time the exclusion zone will remain in place for 24 hours until the acetylene cylinders are cool and declared safe.”
“Firefighters have done an excellent job in preventing the fire from spreading to surrounding commercial and residential properties.”
