Cattle were evacuated from a farm near Hitchin after a blaze involving 950 tonnes of hay engulfed a haystack and barn overnight – as more than 40 brave firefighters battled the inferno all night.
The fire at Angels Farm in Kings Walden Road, Offley, started around 5.45pm yesterday evening and is still ongoing.
At the peak of the blaze there were crews from seven fire engines across Herts and one from Beds fighting the blaze.
At one stage firefighters used water from a nearby lake, as the sheer amount used in attempting to put it out caused a drop in water levels in the area.
The Comet spoke to group commander Pete Hatherley who was on the scene all night. He said: “I am proud of all the firefighters.
“The fact crews worked tremendously hard to save building near to the barn was testament to the professionalism.
“They also helped the farmer in moving around 30 cattle from the area near to the fire.
“It was quite a frenetic and dramatic situation – certainly considering the efforts involved in stopping it spread as the wind did get up in the night.”
A spokesman for the fire service said it was too early to determine whether the fire – which is still ongoing – was started deliberately.
• The aerial footage (above) of the fire is courtesy of JWAP Joseph Wilmot Aerial Photography, see www.facebook.com/jwapHitchin for more.
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