Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) was called to the Station Road site at around 6:40pm on 2 December 2025 after reports of a significant fire involving a large pile of mixed scrap metals.
Crews from Basildon, Corringham, Grays, Orsett and Rayleigh Weir attended and found a 30m by 15m pile, around 10 metres high, well alight.
According to the service, a considerable amount of smoke was billowing from the area, prompting warnings for nearby residents to keep windows and doors closed.
Firefighters worked into the early hours, using a digger operated by site staff to break apart the scrap pile so hotspots could be reached and extinguished.
In a statement posted during the incident, ECFRS said: “Firefighters are currently at the scene of a large fire involving a large pile of scrap metal at a recycling centre in East Tilbury.
“There may continue to be smoke in the area for some time.”
A crew returned to the site the following morning at 8.20am to confirm the fire was fully out before handing the scene back to EMR.
ECFRS has said the blaze is believed to have been accidental.
Second fire at East Tilbury site
The fire follows a similar blaze at the same EMR facility on 30 October 2025, which also required a multi-crew response from Basildon, Corringham, Grays and Orsett stations.
In that incident, firefighters used a specialist crane to separate burning material and tackle embedded hotspots.
Initial investigations by EMR at the time pointed to a lithium-ion battery as the likely ignition source, an issue that has become increasingly familiar across the recycling sector.
A statement from EMR said: “We can confirm that a fire occurred at EMR East Tilbury, Essex, on 2 December at 18:33, marking the second incident at the site following the fire on 30 October.
“Our team responded swiftly on both occasions, activating our on-site emergency protocols and immediately notifying the fire service. Working closely together, our team and the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service brought the incident under control quickly and safely.
“We would like to thank the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service for their rapid response and continued support.
“We are pleased to report that no injuries were sustained, and there has been no structural damage to the site or equipment.”
Lithium-ion battery likely cause
EMR has confirmed that early findings suggest another lithium-ion battery was the cause of the latest fire.
In a statement, the company noted that lithium-ion batteries represent one of the most rapidly growing fire risks facing the waste and recycling industry, contributing to more than 1,000 waste-sector fires in the UK each year.
The statement said: “Initial investigations suggest that a lithium-ion battery was once again the cause of the fire.
“Despite stringent quality assurance measures across the sector, the improper disposal of these batteries poses a severe and escalating threat to recycling operations nationally and globally.
“This trend is not unique to our site – it is a sector-wide and global issue.
“We remain committed to working closely with our customers, partners, and battery manufacturers to reduce the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.
“We continue to invest heavily in public education and awareness campaigns to support the safe disposal and recycling of these items, helping to prevent incidents and protect people, businesses, and the environment.
“We also engage proactively with industry bodies and operators across the UK and internationally to address this growing challenge collectively.”
The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has warned of the surge in battery-related incidents, recently describing the situation as reaching “epidemic levels”.
Lithium-ion cells can ignite when damaged or crushed, common occurrences in mixed waste streams. Once compromised, the batteries can enter thermal runaway, rapidly reaching extreme temperatures capable of igniting surrounding materials.
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