SOMERSET NEWS: Firefighters battle barn blaze

FIREFIGHTERS from across Somerset have been battling a barn fire tonight (Friday, October 3, 2014) at a farm in Curry Rivel – just hours after police put out a warning for people in the area to be vigilant following a spate of farmland blazes.

The alarm was raised at just after 9pm to the incident in Curry Rivel and fire engines from Taunton, Martock and Somerton were mobilised.

On arrival the firefighters discovered the blaze involved one Dutch barn containing about 20 tonnes of thatch reed and hay.

They requested further support of another crew from Somerton and an extra fire engine from Ilminster.

The incident came just a few hours after the police had put out a message urging people to keep a lookout for anything suspicious following a number of farmland fires in the Curry Rivel and Langport areas in recent weeks.

Police are working closely with the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service amid concerns that the fires are being started deliberately by arsonists.

Sgt Dean Hamilton, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “If these fires are being deliberately started I would beg that anyone who knows who is responsible gets in touch either through our website or by calling 101 quoting reference number 99717/14.”

Click on this link for further news about the farmland fires - http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2014/10/03/somerset-news-people-urged-to-be-vigilant-after-spate-of-farmland-fires/.

UPDATE – 7.30am on Saturday, October 4, 2014: Firefighters have remained at the scene throughout the night.

They got the situation under control and by 11.35pm last night (Friday, October 3, 2014) they were keeping a “watching brief.”

A fire crew from Glastonbury arrived to provide relief for others, with fire engines from Martock and Taunton still in attendance.

But by 1am another fire engine from Somerton was mobilised after officers discovered a fire concealed within a trailer containing five tonnes of wood shavings and sawdust.

By 2.40am only one fire crew from Martock remained at the scene as it maintained a “watching brief.”

The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service reported at just after 5am that officers were damping down, while a relief crew from Ilminster had arrived at the scene a short time ago.

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