This picture captures the moment shortly after a shed burst into flames, causing black smoke to bellow into the skies in Chelmsford this evening (July 2).
Two fire engines sped to the blaze in Braemar Avenue in Old Moulsham shortly after 8.10pm after a "a large number of calls" from neighbours.
Richard Wilson wrote on Facebook: "Really big explosion though. Fire brigade got there just afterwards.
"Lots of shouting. Really hope nobody was near when it went off. Blaze was already as high as the trees so hopefully no one was anywhere near it."
Firefighters extinguished the blaze, engulfing a six-metre by four-metre shed, by 8.52pm using two hose reel jets.
A fire service spokesman said no one was injured.
The service has already recorded the cause of the fire as being accidental.
