Haystack and barn fire

Crews extinguished a fire affecting a haystack and barn in Great Totham.

Firefighters were initially called to reports of hay bales alight in Broad Street Green Road today (Friday) at 12.28pm.

On arrival, they found a haystack alight inside a barn, which measured approximately 12 metres by 6 metres.

Crews from Maldon, Witham, Tollesbury and Chelmsford, and Halstead's Water Bowser, used to supply large amounts of water at an incident, attended.

Watch Manager Andy Mott said: "Although the barn was open-fronted, access to the rear of the structure was difficult, as was the water supply due to the remote location.

"Once we got the fire under control and made sure the structure was safe, we used the farm's digger to start removing the hay to help us to extinguish the fire.

"I'd like to praise the crews who worked extremely hard in very harsh weather conditions - we had the full range of rain, sleet and wind during the three hours we were at the scene."

The fire was fully extinguished by 3.32pm. A crew from Maldon revisited the scene this evening to carry out checks.

The cause has been recorded as accidental.   

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Find out more about the role at essex-fire.gov.uk/on-call