Tractor “fully alight” within two minutes in Staffordshire blaze
14th July 2025
The fire started while the tractor was being driven back to the farm, and was fully alight within two minutes of pulling over.
Firefighters in Staffordshire were called out to Rugeley on Thursday evening (10th July) after a tractor caught fire while being driven back to Cowley Hill Farm.
Farmer Will Roobottom said his brother was driving back from tedding when a small fire started on the right-hand side of the bonnet. Within two minutes of pulling over on Pipe Ridware Road, about a mile from the farm, the tractor was fully ablaze.
Two fire engines from Litchfield and Abbots Bromley attended the scene, taking about 20-30 minutes to bring the fire under control.
The cause of the fire is not known.
The farm shared photos and a video of the tractor fully alight, before being tackled by firefighters and the shell of the vehicle eventually being towed away.
Watch the video:
Cowley Hill Farm’s social media confirmed no one was hurt:
‘Massive thank you to everyone that came and helped yesterday evening.
‘Where would we be without the fire service and the community around us to pull together to avoid the fire turning into a bigger problem.
‘Metal can be replaced and luckily everyone is safe and sound. Thank you for all of the support from everyone.’
The sheep farm, which also produces hay and haylage for horses, is now in the process of looking for a replacement tractor.
“The big thing for us it was our only loader tractor on the farm – we do a lot of delivering haylage and hay to people and it’s our main tractor so it’s a bit of a pain that we haven’t got it,” Will told Farmers Guide.
“We’re borrowing a neighbour’s tractor on and off but we can’t have it 24/7.”
Read more rural news.
