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Home » News & Events » 2011 » October » Barn Fires in Llanwarne and Felton

Barn Fires in Llanwarne and Felton

Both fires were believed to have been caused by embers from bonfires being blown onto straw bales.


Crews were first called to a barn on fire in Llanwarne at 4pm (Monday 24 October) and found a two-bay steel-framed barn containing baled straw. The fire was threatening to spread to other farm buildings and a nearby property. Crews from Hereford and Whitchurch also struggled with poor water supplies, so called for a specialist water carrying vehicle from Ross on Wye to shuttle water to the fire from local hydrants.

Crews were then called to another farm at Felton just after 7.45pm yesterday (Monday, October 24) and found a range of buildings approximately 50metres x 30metres heavily involved in fire. Crews worked effectively to contain the fire from spreading to several outbuildings close by including a thatched cottage, a holiday cottage along with an LPG container and a diesel tank.

At the height of the incident crews from Hereford, Bromyard, Leominster, Ledbury, Kingsland, Ewyas Harold and Eardisley were in attendance.

Station Commander Neil Pigott, who attended both incidents said: "The causes of both fires were embers being blown from bonfires onto the baled straw. I would urge people to be extra vigilant when lighting bonfires, particularly in high winds. Thankfully we had resources in place quickly and the initial crews at both incidents worked effectively and quickly to prevent the spread of fire."

Crews are currently still on scene at Felton and are damping down.