The blaze broke out at the Appleton Contracts waste management yard on Loamy Hill Road, Tolleshunt Major, on August 5, sending thick smoke billowing across the countryside. A spokesman for Appleton Contracts said the fire broke out after the site had closed for the day. "We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service for their outstanding response,” they said. Tolleshunt D'Arcy councillor Maddie Thompson told the Standard: "Tolleshunt D'Arcy Parish Council and I give our sympathies to Appleton, a longstanding local firm. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service handed control of the incident back to Appleton at 11.35am the following day.