Crews battle huge barn blaze in Eastchurch
Fire engines at the scene
of the blaze in Eastchurch this morning
by Lewis Dyson
An Isle of Sheppey farmer has been left counting
the cost after a fire at his barn destroyed thousands of
pounds of wheat and straw.
Fire crews spent all last night tackling the huge blaze at New
Hook Farm, off Lower Road, Eastchurch.
Owner Stephen Attwood estimates £25,000 of straw was
destroyed and wheat totalling £35,000 was ruined.
On top of that, he said the cost of replacing the barn itself
could cost as much as £650,000.
It is believed a spark from a piece of machinery used to
dry the crops caused the fire.
Most of the employees of SW Attwood Estates, the farm's company,
had gone home for the day by the time flames picked up.
Video by Lewis Dyson:
Crews battle to put out barn blaze
Accounts receptionist Keely Fuller, 25, was one of the few left
and contacted the emergency services.
She said: "It was just before 5pm when I heard this banging. I
thought: 'What on earth is going on?'
"I thought it was someone in the car park, so I looked out the
window and then I looked around, it was dark and I just saw this
orange glow behind the barn."
At its height as many as 30 firefighters were tackling the blaze
and crews worked to cool two diesel tanks nearby.
Farm manager Ross "Bubs" Goodwin used a forklift truck to move
bales of hay which were nearby out of harms way.
Crews and staff wore face masks to protect them from asbestos in
the roof of the barn.
About a dozen firefighters were still at the scene this morning
standing by in case the fire spreads again.
The blaze is not being treated as suspicious and is not
being linked with a suspected arson attack at Neats Court Farm,
Queenborough Road, Queenborough, 10 days earlier
that caused damage totalling £45,000.
18/12/12
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