Essex firefighters practice putting out fire in oil storage tank

Crews had to react to a ‘rim seal fire’ in a large fuel storage tank. Credit: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

More than 30 Essex firefighters took part in an training exercise yesterday to simulate a large fire caused by a firework hitting an oil storage tank.

Crews from Orsett, Grays, Corringham, Stansted and Maldon Fire Stations took part in 'Exercise Geronimo'.

Crews had to react to a ‘rim seal fire’ in a large fuel storage tank, caused by a breach of the seal igniting fuel vapours.

The exercise took place at Shell Oils in Shellhaven, Coryton.

Exercise Geronimo was organised to test the service's petrochemical firefighting techniques. Credit: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service