Around 60 firefighters remain at the scene of a major blaze that has destroyed the clubhouse at West Essex Golf Club, with residents urged to avoid the area.
The fire broke out earlier today and rapidly spread throughout the entire building, prompting a large multi-station response from Essex Fire and Rescue Service. Images from the scene show crews using an aerial ladder platform as they battled intense flames and thick smoke rising from the site.
Firefighters “making good progress”
In an update issued at around 5.39pm, fire officers confirmed that crews were making good progress in tackling the blaze.
A spokesperson for the fire service said:
Community reaction
Residents took to social media to share footage and photographs of the blaze, describing the incident as devastating for the local community.
Local resident Orla Minihane wrote on X:
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“Our beautiful West Essex Golf Club has burnt to the ground today. Absolutely devastating for our community and the residents of Sewardstonebury.
Thank God no one was hurt.”
Ongoing incident
Firefighters remain on scene damping down and monitoring for hotspots. Residents have been advised to keep away from the area while emergency operations continue. A full investigation into the cause of the fire will begin once the site is declared safe.
