Firefighters battle blaze at huge straw-filled barns in Surrey and Hampshire
Fire crews from across Surrey and Hampshire spent the afternoon fighting two massive barn fires stuffed with straw and hay. Crews are expected to remain on site until the weekend, working to turn over and damp down the smouldering barns.
Reinforcements fight fiery haystack inferno
Backup teams were called in to tackle one barn loaded with around 300 tons of straw. Flames were visible from the village of Seale, lighting up the night sky and alarming locals.
Water shortage hampers fire-fighting efforts
Limited water supply has slowed down the firefight. Two water carriers from nearby Camberley were dispatched to shuttle water from village hydrants to the scene, helping crews battle the flames.
Estate manager praises heroic firefighters
Hamptons Estate manager Bill Biddell, who raised the alarm, explained the hay is used to feed the estate’s beef cattle. “The efforts of the crews despite the heat have been brilliant,” he said.
Cause of blaze remains mystery
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.