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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Explosion fear prompts evacuation | Explosion fear prompts evacuation |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| More than 600 people have been moved from buildings near a fire at a workshop, amid fears of an explosion. | |
| A 656ft (200m) exclusion zone has been set up around the site of the blaze in Southend Road, Billericay, which houses both acetylene and oxygen cylinders. | |
| The workshop measures 65ft (20m) by 98ft (30m) and was described by a spokesman as being "well alight". | |
| He said the exclusion zone was in place because of the "huge potential for heated cylinders to explode". | He said the exclusion zone was in place because of the "huge potential for heated cylinders to explode". |
| Essex Police have been moving people from Southend Road to Grange Road, Highfield Road and Outwood Common Road. | |
| Firefighters are cooling down the cylinders at the fire in Billericay | |
| Basildon District Council is setting up temporary shelters at two schools. | |
| Essex Fire Service's assistant divisional officer, Terry Povey said: "We have four ground monitors on the cylinders cooling them and they will remain in place for the duration of the incident. | |
| "The 200m cordon will remain in place for this period. this is in line with national guidelines because when these cylinders explode shrapnel will fly for anything up to 200m." | |
| Firefighters are likely to continue cooling down the cylinders until Friday afternoon. |