Nine acres of Somerset farmland destroyed in large crop fire

Fire crews from Taunton, Bridgwater, Welington and Yeovil were called at around 3pm on Saturday, 20th April, to tackle the fire.

Three fire engines, two off-road vehicles and a water bowser appeared on the scene.

Damaged by fire

A Devon and Somerset Fire and rescue spokesperson said: “Fire control have taken several calls reporting a large fire in the Nailsbourne area, near Taunton.

“On arrival crews confirmed this was a field measuring nine acres of standing crop well alight. Crew are using main jets, beaters and creating a fire break with the assistance of farm machinery.”

The officers confirmed that the field and crops were 90% damaged by fire.

The cause of the fire was accidental.

READ MORE: Huge blaze in Suffolk: 9,000 tonnes of straw caught fire

READ MORE: Somerset farm suffers £100,000 worth of damage following arson attack

How to prevent fire on your farm

• Regular maintenance – Ensure that your equipment is clean and maintained before every harvest activity. Regular equipment blowdowns and lubrication schedules can help avoid fires within your equipment.
• Help firemen find you – Provide the fire and rescue service’s control centre with what3words from the entrance of your farm and wait for the first appliance. They will then ask you to guide them to the scene of the incident.
• Know where your water supplies are – Ensure that any available water supplies on your farm are accessible to fire and rescue crews. If you know where your nearest fire hydrant is, ensure that this is clear and accessible.
• Have contingency arrangements in place – Consider using cultivators to put in fire breaks where safe to do so. If you have water bowsers available to extinguish spot fires ensure that they are near and full of water.
• Store safe – Where possible avoid storing bales near main roads to deter would-be trespassers and arsonists. Store pesticides and fertilisers securely and remember it’s critical to let us know if these products are involved in a fire due to the specific risks they pose.
• Check conditions and consult the Fire Severity Index before planning harvesting activities – This will help you identify the best time of day to start your harvesting to avoid the most extreme weather zones. Also, check wind direction and where possible harvest in the direction of the already cut crop and not the unharvested crop

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