Four crews are attending the scene of a fire on Monday evening near Roots Hall, the home ground of Southend United football club.
Photos emerging on social media from the area show thick black smoke coming from a building on Roots Hall Avenue, near the 12,000-capacity stadium.
At least four fire engines are in attendance, with other images appearing to show a pile of artificial turf on fire at the site.
Essex County and Fire Rescue Service said the blaze is at a commercial premises and began at 5:45pm.
Local media outlet Your Somerset report that the blaze appears to be in a storage area, with fire alarms sounding throughout the stadium.
A spokesman said: 'Firefighters have been called to reports of a fire at a premises in Victoria Avenue, Southend this evening.
'Please avoid the area. If you live nearby, keep windows and doors closed.'
The stadium has played host to Southend United since the 1950s, with the club last season relegated from the Football League for the first time in 101 years.
More to follow...
