Axminster firefighters tackle hay-bale blaze

Firefighters put out hay bales ablaze inside a barn in the Widworthy area on Monday (17 July).

Crews were initially called to the scene just after 12pm, and asked for backup on arrival. Stations that attended included Exeter Danes Castle, Axminster, Honiton, Seaton and Sidmouth.

The fire was successfully extinguished with water jets. It destroyed a number of hay bales, but the barn was not damaged.

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "The fire service was called to a report of hay on fire within a building at the specified location.

"On arrival crews confirmed that this was a large agricultural building containing a large quantity of hay bales and requested a further two fire engines.

"Crews got to work using two hose reel jets and a main jet as well as utilising a water carrier to carry out water relay from a hydrant to the scene.

"The fire was eventually extinguished using the above equipment and another main jet. The fire destroyed a quantity of hay bales within the barn but luckily didn't affect the building itself."