Battery storage site fire in East Tilbury brought under control after 24 hours

On 19 February 2025, a significant fire broke out at a battery energy storage system (BESS) site under construction in East Tilbury, Essex. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service mobilised crews from Orsett, Basildon and Corringham fire stations, who tackled the blaze for almost 24 hours. The site consists of multiple containers housing battery units. The fire service initially stated the cause was a fault in one of the battery cells within a single containerised battery unit, leading to ignition. Crews used thermal imaging cameras and drones to monitor temperatures and manage the fire in a controlled way, applying water to prevent heat transfer to adjacent units. On 20 February, the fire service confirmed the fire had been brought under control and crews began scaling back their response. Injuries and evacuations were not reported in the source.

The fire was reported to have started from a fault in a single battery cell within one containerised battery unit, leading to ignition. The fire service stated that appropriate spacing between battery units and a reliable local fire water supply helped limit the spread of the fire.

1. Adequate physical spacing between containerised battery units can meaningfully limit fire spread from a single failed unit to neighbouring units.
2. A reliable, accessible local fire water supply at BESS sites supports effective emergency response.
3. Use of thermal imaging and drone technology allows fire crews to monitor cell temperatures safely and manage battery fires in a controlled way without unnecessary risk.
4. Joint investigation between site owners, equipment suppliers and fire authorities after the incident is important to establish root cause and prevent recurrence.

thefpa.co.uk/news/significant-battery-site-fire-brought-under-control