Essex fire authority say Nazeing blaze was too expensive to extinguish

The fire at the Hoe Lane wood recycling centre burnt for two weeks and has left locals homes, gardens and cars covered in thick soot.

Some have even resorted to wearing facemasks as they say the fear for their health because of ash and smoke.

Station Commander Andy senior said: “It is our procedure to allow a controlled burn in instances like this where there is no surrounding risk. In the case of the Nazeing fire the burning was extremely deep seated and we do not have excavation equipment which would allow us to get to the heart of the fire and extinguish it so we allowed it to burn in a controlled way.

"The fire was fully extinguished on Thursday June 18 and to the best of my knowledge is now completely out.”

Liz Lawrence, from Palmers Grove said: "I'm shocked, I wonder how expensive it will be when we sue the authorities for putting our health at risk? We're having a problem with dust here now."

"In the last couple of weeks I've woken up in the middle of the night coughing and choking with my eyes streaming. My neighbours have helath problems and I know they're suffering too."

"There's still ash coming down, I mean I felt as if I was living in the shadow of Krakatoa."

Villagers voiced their anger at a Nazeing Parish Council meeting on June 11.

District and Parish Councillor for Lower Nazeing Antoinette Cooper said: "The Parish Council agreed to pay for air monitoring to be carried out at the site as so many residents were suffering from headaches, sore eyes and coughs."

"The risks from this fire are probably far higher as the wood is contaminated and not "clean". I fully support this action and the residents to have this fire put out."

"I will continue to support residents to have action taken against those who are polluting our environment and putting our health at risk."

There will be a public meeting next monday (June 22) where residents will meet with councillors to discuss their fears.