Twenty firefighters were taken to hospital after a blaze ripped through an industrial unit and spread to a fertiliser store, triggering a major explosion.
The fire service declared a major incident on Friday, as more than 100 firefighters tackled the flames at Highlands Farm, near the village of Rettendon, Essex.
Three fire engines and two fire service cars were destroyed in the blaze.
Speaking at a media conference on Saturday, Rick Hylton, Essex’s chief fire officer, praised the “remarkable professionalism, courage and commitment” of the fire crews.