Wickford bin lorry fire 'sounded like an explosion'

Friern Gardens, in Wickford, was filled with a large pile of rubbish yesterday after waste crews were forced to empty the lorry to prevent the fire spreading. 

The road was filled with rubbish before a second lorry arrived and the rubbish was quickly cleared and the street cleaned. 

Residents living on the street described hearing a loud bang at roughly 10.30am yesterday before multiple fire engines filled the street.

Rubbish everywhere - The rubbish had to be dumped in the street (Image: Gavin Callaghan)

Gavin Callaghan, Labour leader of the council, praised the bin crews for following procedure and swiftly clearing the rubbish. 

David Godden, 62, said: “There was this loud bang, it was just such a loud sound, like an explosion or a collision.

“I just wanted to make sure no one was injured. They were quite swift in clearing the road, the council were down here almost immediately.

“Police and fire engines were on the scene, there were lots of bags of rubbish in the road. I was concerned it was an accident.”

Cleared away - Residents said the rubbish was cleared away quickly (Image: Gavin Callaghan)

Three fire engines quickly responded to reports of the fire with the fire put out within half-an-hour of arriving, while residents also praised the workers for their quick clearing of the road.

Tina Corner, who is one of the residents on the road, was sitting in her lounge before she heard “two great big thuds” and spoke with one of the binmen who told her something at the back of the lorry had caught fire.

Emergency services - Residents said the fire service and police attended (Image: David Godden)

She said: “I spoke to one of the guys and they said the engine had caught fire, and they just had to dump everything on the road.

“I took the guys out some coffee, I don’t know if they were just shaken up or just cold. I was glad it was just that and there had not been an accident.

“Everyone was okay. It’s all cleaned up now and washed down.”

Dumped - The rubbish had to be dropped on the road due to a vehicle fire (Image: Gavin Callaghan)

Cleaning up - The mess was cleaned (Image: Gavin Callaghan)

Mr Callaghan said: “Huge thanks to our refuse collectors in Wickford for quickly clearing up after a fire broke out in the refuse truck. 

“When this happens the crews have to immediately empty the lorry and then wait for a secondary vehicle to arrive to dispose of the rubbish. 

“They did a great job, followed the procedure to the letter and everyone is safe.”

An Essex County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson confirmed they were called to a vehicle fire shortly before 10:30am, and had put out the blaze by 10:52am