Drivers are being warned to take care as smoke is blowing across the A127 from a large recycling centre fire in Basildon.
Firefighters were initially called to the scene on Burnt Mills industrial estate before 2am this morning as a fire broke out at a recycling centre.
Initially twelve crews from across south Essex were battling the flames, although the incident has now been scaled down to four crews.
Essex Fire Service says it is expecting large amounts of smoke in the area of the incident in Hovefields Avenue over the next few days.
Station Manager Nick Singleton said: "Crews are making good progress but the incident is creating a lot of smoke. This will be the case over the next few days, so please bear with us while we bring in the incident to safe conclusion.
"The wind direction keeps changing so please keep your doors and windows closed if you live in or around Basildon. Also, take extra care on the A127, which runs along the site in question, because smoke is blowing across the carriageway."
Four crews are at the scene, working with on-site staff to pull apart and extinguish piles of recycling.
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