300 tons of hay burn in 'deliberate' blaze in north Shropshire
More than 300 tonnes of hay bales went up in flames in a blaze which is believed to have been started deliberately.
Smoke could be seen billowing from the field near Market Drayton more than eight hours after the fire started.
Five crews from stations around Shropshire were called to the fire off the A53 near Hodnet, which is thought to have involved between 300 and 400 tons of hay, at around 4.30am.
The crews, including the heavy pumping unit, were sent from Hodnet, Market Drayton, Prees, Wellington and Wem along with operations and safety officers.
Station manager Jim Barker, from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said two main jets were used with water from an improvised dam and farm supply borehole.
The team, made up of some 33 firefighters, tackled the blaze for hours using breathing apparatus and brought the fire under control within four hours.
From 9am, relief teams were sent to the field and took over the incident.
Adrian Taylor, crew manager for Green Watch at Telford Central, said: "We are the relief crews, we have had two crews in attendance since 9am.
"We are now working to drag out the fire and dampen it down.
"There is no known reason for the cause yet, and we are expecting to be here for a number of hours still – at least into this afternoon."
Mr Barker said the fire was believed to be started deliberately and firefighters and police are now calling for any information.
A statement on the Market Drayton crew Facebook page said: "The Market Drayton crew have now returned to station after having been replaced by a crew from Tweedale at the ongoing incident near Hodnet.
"We would like to thank our colleagues from Loggerheads from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service who have been standing by at Market Drayton to provide fire cover in the area whilst the Market Drayton appliance was committed.
"Crews are likely to remain at the Hodnet incident throughout the day, damping down and preventing any further fire spread.
"It has been a very long night for crews, so for now it's over and out."
Anyone with information about the fire should call police on 101.
