40 firefighters tackle hay fire in Lilleshall barn
Friday 1st July 2011, 4:24PM BST.
More than 40 firefighters were called to battle a blaze involving more than 100 tonnes of hay which broke out in a barn at a Shropshire farm this morning.
Neighbours near the farm off Abbey Road in Lilleshall, near Newport, reported hearing several loud explosions before seeing plumes of smoke from two barns which were completely destroyed.
Scores of firefighters attended and used five jets in a bid to douse the flames and smoke, which could be seen for more than a mile from the farm.
The blaze broke out at about 8am and fire crews from across the county were sent to the scene.
Police cordoned off part of the area and Abbey Road, and they were diverting traffic away from the small country road, which saw fire engines parked on neighbouring driveways and road sides.
Group commander Kevin Faulkner said: “We have 45 firefighters at the scene
“We were preventing it from spreading and we will investigate the cause once it is safe to do so.”
Mr Faulkner said that the blaze was contained and brought under control in a little over an hour.
He added that the barn roof was destroyed in the blaze.
Fire crews tackling the blaze this morning were from Newport, Prees, Tweedale, Wellington, Shrewsbury and Telford Central.
They were joined in the fight by a water bowser from Bridgnorth and a hazardous materials officer.
Firefighters were reduced in numbers to 11 this afternoon as the remaining crews continued to dampen down the area to prevent any further fire and make the area safe.
Mr Faulkner added: “It is going to take a while to fully extinguish because the roof has come down and it’s all very much open now.”
He said that there had been no-one injured in the fire.
By Jason Lavan
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