Overview
- A major fire broke out at a Stour Road warehouse in Harwich in the early hours of Sunday, August 16, and firefighters found the building fully alight.
- Around 35 Essex County Fire and Rescue Service personnel worked in sectors to tackle the blaze and the warehouse’s main structure completely collapsed during firefighting operations.
- Thick smoke and warm ash plumes were visible for miles across Essex and into Suffolk, prompting officials to tell nearby residents to keep windows and doors shut.
- Station managers and fire service updates have ruled out asbestos in the smoke and ash and confirmed roads have been reopened as crews move to monitoring and recovery.
- The unit is believed to house Premier Labellers, so the loss raises local employment and supply‑chain concerns, and a formal cause investigation will start once the scene is safe.