A major fire has broken out at the former Boots and Laces Southend United training ground on Eastern Avenue, sending thick black smoke billowing across the city.
The blaze has been visible for miles, with flames leaping high into the sky above the derelict site. The fire broke out close to the busy Waitrose supermarket, where shoppers and staff have been leaving the area as smoke drifted across the car park.
At least seven firefighter crews were dispatched to the scene, along with police and paramedics. Firefighter crews were dispatched from Southend, Basildon, Rochford, Wickford, Leigh and Rayleigh Weir stations.
Live photo gallery from the incident:
Emergency services rushed to the scene on Sunday afternoon, with multiple fire engines tackling the blaze at the two-storey building. Traffic disruption has been reported on the dual carriageway running alongside the site, as drivers slowed to see the fire and smoke.
A spokesperson for Essex County Fire & Rescue Service said: “Our Control Room has received a large number of calls reporting a fire on Eastern Avenue, Southend. We are aware and our crews are at the incident. Thank you to everyone who has reported it. It is a large pile of rubbish, trees and an outbuilding alight.”
One nearby resident told us: “You could smell the smoke from streets away. It’s shocking to see this happening again – the whole area is covered in a dark haze now.”
The incident comes after another fire at the same building in June, which fire investigators confirmed had been started deliberately.
The site, once the home of Southend United’s training facilities, has stood empty since the Blues moved out of the site last year.
At this stage, the cause of the latest fire has not yet been confirmed.
KEY UPDATE: Fire Incident Commander Dean Riley said: “Crews arrived to a well developed fire which was spreading from an outbuilding to a pile of rubbish and nearby trees.
“Firefighters have worked hard in very warm weather conditions to surround the fire and stop it from spreading to nearby buildings and a supermarket.
“A fire investigation into the cause will be carried out when it is safe to do so.”