This photo, taken from the supermarket car park, shows thick smoke drifting across the clear blue sky, with cars and customers going about their day just a short distance from the incident. The image captures the scale of the blaze, underlining the fire service’s appeal for people to avoid the area while crews work to bring it under control. A spokesman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called to a field fire in Crows Lane, Woodham Ferrers, at 3.18pm. "Crews are in attendance. "Please avoid the area while firefighters bring the incident to a safe conclusion."