Firefighters were called to an incident in East Tilbury on 19 February 2025, after a significant fire broke out at a battery energy storage site (BESS)
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) mobilised crews from Orsett, Basildon, and Corringham fire stations, with firefighters tackling the blaze for almost 24 hours. The site, which is currently under construction, consists of multiple containers housing battery units.
ECFRS initially stated that the fire had been caused by “a fault in one of the battery cells within a single containerised battery unit, leading to ignition”.
Crews utilised specialist equipment, including thermal imaging cameras and drones, to monitor temperatures, manage the fire in a controlled way, and prevent it from spreading. Water was used to prevent heat transfer.
At the time, Dan Partridge, Area Manager for ECFRS, said that firefighters were working "quickly and effectively alongside the site owners and Thurrock Council to manage this fire safely”.
“Through close monitoring and a carefully controlled response, we have contained the fire and made sure there is no risk to the wider community," he added.
The following day (20 February), ECFRS confirmed that the fire had safely been brought under control, with crews beginning to scale back their response.
Partridge added that “appropriate spacing” between the battery units helped to limit the amount of fire spread:
"Over the last 24 hours, firefighters have worked tirelessly to contain the fire, prevent further risks, and ensure the safety of the site and surrounding area. The response was supported by the site's safety measures, including a reliable local fire water supply and appropriate spacing between battery units, which helped limit the spread of the fire.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this incident to a safe conclusion."
The fire service has since added that officers will carry out an investigation into the cause of the fire with the site owners and their equipment suppliers when it is safe to do so.
As reported by BBC News, earlier in February, campaigners contested plans for a BESS plant to be built on farmland near East Rounton over fears there would be a “very high risk” of fire breaking out at the site. The company behind the project, NatPower said it was working alongside North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the local authority to ensure health and safety requirements were met. A spokesperson for the company added that safety measures would be built into the battery design to prevent overheating, which includes a fire suppression system.
A need-to-know guide on the hazards around BESS and commercial lithium-ion battery installations (RE1) can be downloaded from the FPA website here.