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Fire crews tackle refinery blaze Fire crews tackle refinery blaze
(about 1 hour later)
Emergency services at the scene of a fire after an explosion at an oil refinery in Essex say the blaze is out and poses no further danger. Firefighters say they have put out an oil refinery blaze which was sparked after an explosion shook homes up to 14 miles away.
Crews were called to the Petroplus Coryton refinery, near Stanford le Hope, at about 1130 GMT. Crews were called to the Petroplus Coryton refinery, near Stanford le Hope, Essex, at about 1130 GMT.
Essex Fire Service said the fire was on the ground floor of a tower but flames were 100ft (30.5m) up a column. Essex Fire Service said the blaze began on the ground floor of a tower and sent flames 100ft (30.5m) up the column.
The service said foam was used to bring it under control and a search of the area had accounted for all staff. The service said foam was used to bring it under control and a search of the area confirmed no one had been hurt.
Essex Fire Service's assistant chief fire officer Mark Hardingham said: "We are now involved in tactical meetings to decide on the next phase of action to extinguish the fire. Ten fire appliances and seven special units were called to the refinery which lies 30 miles (48km) from London, along the Thames Estuary.
"Two foam lines have been laid out as a precaution at this stage." At the height of the blaze, a huge column of smoke could be seen from about 20 miles away.
Ten fire appliances and seven special units are at the refinery which lies 30 miles (48km) from London, along the Thames Estuary.
Your pictures of the blazeYour pictures of the blaze
Mr Hardingham added: "This is a site that is well known to us and we regularly visit the refinery to carry out training exercises with Petroplus' own petrochemical experts in preparation for this type of event.
"We are confident we have sufficient expertise and resources in place to bring the incident to a satisfactory conclusion."
Marion Coleman, who lives about 14 miles (22km) away on Canvey Island, told BBC Essex: "There was a massive explosion.Marion Coleman, who lives about 14 miles (22km) away on Canvey Island, told BBC Essex: "There was a massive explosion.
"Our house shook, all the windows rattled and there were flames rising to the height of the chimneys at Coryton."Our house shook, all the windows rattled and there were flames rising to the height of the chimneys at Coryton.
"Black smoke was billowing up into the sky.""Black smoke was billowing up into the sky."
Ray Howard is a member of Castle Point Borough Council which covers Canvey Island, Benfleet, Thundersley and Hadleigh, and lives nearby.Ray Howard is a member of Castle Point Borough Council which covers Canvey Island, Benfleet, Thundersley and Hadleigh, and lives nearby.
Black smoke could be seen rising up. Picture by Lister AppletonBlack smoke could be seen rising up. Picture by Lister Appleton
"Some almighty explosion occurred, it shook my house," he said."Some almighty explosion occurred, it shook my house," he said.
"The next thing, all I saw was huge flames and smoke coming from the refinery.""The next thing, all I saw was huge flames and smoke coming from the refinery."
The borough's emergency planning officer has been called to the scene and Essex Police said Petroplus had instigated its own emergency plans for such an incident. Essex chief fire officer Mike Hardingham said shortly after 1500 GMT the fire was "under control and is unlikely to develop further".
Police said a non-toxic smoke plume was drifting towards Canvey Island.
Homes and premises in the vicinity of the site are not going to be evacuated at this stage, police said.
Mr Hardingham said shortly after 1500 GMT that the fire was "under control and is unlikely to develop further".
"The process of bringing the incident to a conclusion is likely to take some time," he said."The process of bringing the incident to a conclusion is likely to take some time," he said.
"The refinery is a complex place and a number of areas are required to be shut down and managed in sequence to enable the situation to be restored to normal.""The refinery is a complex place and a number of areas are required to be shut down and managed in sequence to enable the situation to be restored to normal."
He added: "People in the nearby communities should be assured that every effort is being made to bring the situation to a swift and safe conclusion."
The Swiss oil company Petroplus bought the Coryton Refinery from BP in May 2007.The Swiss oil company Petroplus bought the Coryton Refinery from BP in May 2007.
Close to the M25, the site is responsible for loading about 700 tankers a day to meet 22% of the UK's forecourt demand.Close to the M25, the site is responsible for loading about 700 tankers a day to meet 22% of the UK's forecourt demand.
The complex, which was originally commissioned in 1953, has a refining capacity of 10 million tonnes a year.The complex, which was originally commissioned in 1953, has a refining capacity of 10 million tonnes a year.
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