Barn destroyed in major blaze

Three fire engines from Middlemoor, Danes Castle and Cullumpton, a water carrier and a hydraulic platform from Danes Castle were sent to deal with a fire in a barn at a farm in Broadclyst just after midnight.

On arrival crews confirmed the barn 32 metres x 15 metres was well alight and got to work extinguishing the fire using compressed air foam and hose reel jets.

There were 20 bags of ammonia nitrate in the barn and a hazardous materials officer gave advice on these. The Environmental Protection Unit was requested to attend, and mobilised from Taunton.

At 0030 a further appliance from Crediton and the water foam carrier from Torquay were mobilised for their foam capability. Also the incident command unit was sent from Honiton.

At 1am a further two fire appliances were requested. Ottery St Mary and Topsham were mobilised, and shortly after, the Welfare Unit from Crediton was requested.

Two hours later crews stated good progress was being made with two compressed air foam jets, and one water tower. Three appliance relief crews were requested to attend, and sent from Exmouth, Tiverton and Wellington.

The building was completely destroyed, along with two quad bikes, one tractor, one combine harvester and 600kg of ammonia nitrate. Investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out today.