Get involved...
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting ECHONEWS to 80360, or email us »
Updated: Vange scrapyard blaze
7:39am Thursday 3rd July 2008
FIREFIGHTERS were faced with exploding gas cylinders as they tackled a fierce fire at a scrap yard under investigation for operating illegally.
Fire ripped through the Marsh House, off the A13 in Vange, with explosions heard by residents living the other side of the dual carriageway.
The remote site, which is next to Marsh Farm, has been targeted by police and officials from the Environment Agency twice in the last four months.
Two arrests were made last month following a raid over allegations the yard was dismantling vehicles without a licence.
Resident Penny Witherington, of Brickfield Road, said: "I saw the smoke coming from the yard and then heard popping and cracking sounds, I didn't know what was happening."
Crews from across south Essex raced to the yard at around 8.30pm on Tuesday and found five cars alight. They had to travel across a railway line and down a dirt track to reach the blaze.
Explosive accetylene cylinders were also caught in the fire and a 200-metre cordon was set up, which remained in place yesterday.
A specialist fire officer, who has knowledge of chemical and gas risks, visited the site yesterday morning and Essex Police scenes of crime officers were also sent to assist the fire service in establishing the cause of the blaze.
Tim Shepperd, of the Environment Agency, also assessed the site. He has visited it six times since last December as part of the ongoing investigations.
He said: "We came here with the police in March as part of an investigation into activities on the site in terms of dismantling vehicles without a licence.
"We returned last month and arrests were made.
"Our main concern today is with the environment. Vange Marshes are all around and we now have dirty water running into them."
Marsh House is part of a seven-acre site and the house itself is a derelict listed building.
Your Say YourEcho
canvey resident, canvey island says...
2:50pm Wed 2 Jul 08
What big eye brows he has.
The Vicar Fortean, The Basildon Triangle says...
3:57pm Wed 2 Jul 08
witness, outside says...
7:14pm Wed 2 Jul 08
Monkey, says...
9:45am Thu 3 Jul 08
witness wrote:Er...fire engines are just pumps on wheels - fire crews do not actually take the water with them, they attach the pump to a hydrant or other weater supply.
I was there and there was at least 50 cars on fire at one time and rather than the fire brigade putting it out they was enjoying tea and biscuits.and at one point there wasnt any fire brigade there and when they got there didnt have any water.
Also, given the length of time crews have to be at an incident of this size, they have to be given refreshments to enable them to do their job.
And it's definitely a face...
fireman fan, says...
11:21am Thu 3 Jul 08
fireman fan 2, Basildon says...
12:07pm Thu 3 Jul 08
The Vicar, Basildon says...
12:39pm Thu 3 Jul 08
fireman fan wrote:What do you class as rubbish pay?
I cant believe the cheek of some people like "monkey" writing rubbish before they know the facts! someone i know was one of the many fireman assisting with this incident in the early hours of this morning and it was hard work trying to keep the cylinders cool so they didnt blow. When they get called out they work hard and provide a great service and have to put up with vile comments and rubbish pay which makes me sick!
Don't they get overtime for handing out leaflets at gay pride marches? ;)
Reader, Vange says...
12:55pm Thu 3 Jul 08
fireman fan, says...
1:14pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Here here Fireman fan 2 - my partner does a lot of dangerous jobs working as a fireman so hearing negative comments about his work annoys me! The pay does not reflect the job they do because they risk their lifes to help out people like you! Lets hope that all the people posting negative and so called jokey comments dont need a fireman one day to save them and there family! They get enough abuse (for some reason) as it is!
Fireman fan, says...
1:21pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Fireman Fan 2 - your soooo right, people like that think being a fireman is a walk in the park, my partner is a fireman is works **** hard when he gets call outs come through so negative comments he doesnt need! And yes they do get rubbish (look it up) for the dangerous job they do. they dont get pay rises and stay on the same money. They put their lifes at risk for people like you and you would soon change your tune if it was your house on fire!
And no Vicar.. thats clearly your job!
The Vicar, Basildon says...
3:28pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Fireman fan wrote:Despite that, you still haven't answered what you class as rubbish pay. How much are we talking about - and for what hours?
Ooops sorry Monkey it was the so called witness i was ranting at! Fireman Fan 2 - your soooo right, people like that think being a fireman is a walk in the park, my partner is a fireman is works **** hard when he gets call outs come through so negative comments he doesnt need! And yes they do get rubbish (look it up) for the dangerous job they do. they dont get pay rises and stay on the same money. They put their lifes at risk for people like you and you would soon change your tune if it was your house on fire! And no Vicar.. thats clearly your job!
tea vicar, Vange says...
4:20pm Thu 3 Jul 08
tea vicar, Vange says...
4:20pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Vernon, Basildon says...
5:10pm Thu 3 Jul 08
fireman fan wrote:When they get called out they work hard
I cant believe the cheek of some people like "monkey" writing rubbish before they know the facts! someone i know was one of the many fireman assisting with this incident in the early hours of this morning and it was hard work trying to keep the cylinders cool so they didnt blow. When they get called out they work hard and provide a great service and have to put up with vile comments and rubbish pay which makes me sick!
They do a great job,which I'm sure we all apprecciate, but to say they get a rubbish wage in a long way off the mark.They are paid regardless of whether they are called out or not, so if you look at their wage on an 'actual' hours worked basis, their pay is substantial
The Vicar, Basildon says...
5:16pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Vernon wrote:Finally - thank you, Vernon. The fireman's partner avoiding the question repeatedly answered it for me.
fireman fan wrote: I cant believe the cheek of some people like "monkey" writing rubbish before they know the facts! someone i know was one of the many fireman assisting with this incident in the early hours of this morning and it was hard work trying to keep the cylinders cool so they didnt blow. When they get called out they work hard and provide a great service and have to put up with vile comments and rubbish pay which makes me sick!When they get called out they work hard They do a great job,which I'm sure we all apprecciate, but to say they get a rubbish wage in a long way off the mark.They are paid regardless of whether they are called out or not, so if you look at their wage on an 'actual' hours worked basis, their pay is substantial
Compared to nurses and other hard workers I very much doubt Firemen are on "rubbish pay" for the hours they do.
I bet they get paid more than people in the armed forces.
Fireman fan, says...
5:32pm Thu 3 Jul 08
The Vicar, Basildon says...
5:42pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Fireman fan wrote:I still don't think firemen are underpaid.
Fireman work the same hours as most people but do longer shifts. I agree that nurses are not paid enough but at the end of the day if you are risking your life for other people your pay should reflect that. As for the comment about getting a house thrown in.. he doesnt. Hmmmmm.
Tell me how much he earns a year and we'll compare that to a soldier.
As for the house, I don't know. I paid for mine.
mum, canvey says...
7:32am Fri 4 Jul 08
Fireman Fan, says...
10:25am Fri 4 Jul 08
Yes as for house you wouldnt know cos you mouth off before knowing any facts. He pays for his like most people. Some fire stations have live in quaters but thats the little village stations not ones round here! some people have got nothing better to do that slate people's jobs! take a look at yourself!
And "mum" i totally agree with you.. i was just putting my point across to people who had a moan about fireman taking a break on a big job! sorry to hear that.
The Vicar, Basildon says...
10:54am Fri 4 Jul 08
Fireman Fan wrote:I never slated anyone's job. I just said that I don't think that Firemen are underpaid in the great scheme of things.
Vicar its not difficult to find out how much a fireman earns and im not willing to go into that with you. For you information he was a soldier for 6 years so put that in your pipe and smoke it! Yes as for house you wouldnt know cos you mouth off before knowing any facts. He pays for his like most people. Some fire stations have live in quaters but thats the little village stations not ones round here! some people have got nothing better to do that slate people's jobs! take a look at yourself! And "mum" i totally agree with you.. i was just putting my point across to people who had a moan about fireman taking a break on a big job! sorry to hear that.
Sympathy, says...
10:17pm Fri 4 Jul 08
mum wrote:Oh, you must be the mum of the boy who lost 29 cars in the fire. I do feel sorry for him as the cars are worth quite a bit in the banger racing world. That lot comes to at least £7,000 worth. The tools, well some people lose tools to others who decide to borrow them from others and never give them back. I know quite a few people in the same boat. I don't lend any tools out to anyone anymore for the same reason. I feel so sorry for the guy, 29 cars that can never be replaced as they are so rare. They may not be roadworthy but hey, they are still worth loads of money.
we seem to be focusing on the firemen. yes they do a great job and should get paid higher than others. they are risking their lives for us, but what about mentioning the people who have lost a lot in the fire? my son lost everything he had to do with banger racing. it took him 8 years to collect everything including tools etc. he has lost thousands of pounds worth of stuff. he started bangers when he was 16 and it kept him off the streets and out of trouble. now he has lost the lot, because of some mindless idiot. what he done regarding the bangers was not illegal, just a hobby for him which has now been lost.
Yentl, says...
10:34pm Fri 4 Jul 08
mum, C I says...
7:50am Sat 5 Jul 08
Your sayYourEcho
Add your comment
Register for a FREE Echo account and you can have your say on today's news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.
Please register now or sign in below to continue.
The flames take hold. </i>Picture courtesy of Essex Fire and Rescue Service</i>
In this section
- County Council denies secret traveller plans
- Crates leads Great Britain in Paralympic Games
- Cool way to stay safe at home
- £10,000 monitors for ward
- Stan and Eva's diamond cheer
- Cliffs open day
- Airport almost ready for take-off
- Hospital stands firm on parking charges
- District loses £66,000 of parking income
- Pub landladies donate electric bed to hospital
ESSENTIAL LINKS
Sponsored Links
EDITOR'S CHOICE
£2m handout will give town centre a facelift
COUNCIL chiefs are planning an autumn spending spree after getting a £2million handout to improve the town centre.
Plan 'B' for waste plant
A HUGE waste site dealing with rubbish from across Essex could be scaled down or scrapped altogether.
Footballer acquitted of assault
A FOOTBALLER walked free from court after being cleared of deliberately breaking his opponent’s jaw during a heated match.
Don't learn about ID theft the hard way says Barry
BARRY Stoll made a shocking discovery when he came by some computer equipment discarded when its owner upgraded her system.
People power unlikely to halt futuristic flats
A FUTURISTIC block of flats is likely to be built on Southend seafront, despite objections from more than 1,300 people.
Liverpool Street ticket office gets £250,000 revamp
Liverpool Street station’s ticket office is getting a £250,000 makeover.
Mick finds a golden band in the sand
METAL detecting enthusiast Mick Green put his search skills to good use – to reunite a devastated husband with a missing wedding ring.
£14m bid to ease misery on our roads
TRAFFIC misery at some of Basildon’s busiest roads could come to an end if County Hall bosses secure millions of pounds for proposed highway improvements to ease congestion.
What's On Live Travel YourEcho
Hot Jobs
- 2nd chef req'd SOUTHEND ON SEA
- Workshop Technician / Caravan Sales Person Basildon
- Window Cleaner
- CNC Millers, Precision Engineering Mechanical Insp Chelmsford
- PALS Assistant, Driver / Storeperson
- Corporate Communications Officers, Childcare Devel
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
devil's Advocate, boozledon says...
12:59pm Wed 2 Jul 08
And don't gas cylinders and vehicles make a loverly blaze?