Suffolk: Firefighters tackle large blaze involving several farm buildings

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service was called to the incident at Cherry Tree Farm at approximately 1.45am on Friday, 11th July. 

The officers confirmed that the blaze involves several large barns, covering an area approximately 150m by 40m.

The buildings contain a substantial quantity of straw bales, agricultural machinery, and a workshop that housed several acetylene cylinders. One 1,000-litre container of pine oil was also found on-site and has been safely removed away from the buildings.

The fire escalated quickly, peaking at eight fire engines on the ground, with additional support from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service. The scene was initially divided into four operational sectors to manage the incident, led by senior officers from both services.

The response is also being supported by a water carrier due to limited water supply at the location. 

The service said that the key hazards at the scene include heavy smoke, intense heat, and ongoing vehicle movements.  

A spokesperson from the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews made good progress in containing and surrounding the fire. A fire break was successfully created in the standing crop to the rear of the barns to prevent further spread.

“The use of hose reels, a water monitor, and aerial ladder platform allowed for a coordinated firefighting effort from both ground and height.”

The officers confirmed that the fire has been scaled down to two operational sectors. Firefighters are now focused on dampening down the perimeter and hot spotting.

Acetylene cylinders are showing low temperatures on thermal imaging, which indicates reduced risk, though crews remain cautious.

A cordon remains in place due to unstable building structures, low-level asbestos, and the ongoing risk of collapse.

A CHEMET (chemical meteorology) report has been received and is guiding safety protocols on the site. A relief strategy is being implemented to rotate crews throughout the remainder of the day, the service added.

“This has been a large and complex incident involving significant hazards. We anticipate crews will remain in attendance throughout today to continue dampening down and monitoring the site for safety.

“We would like to thank local residents for their patience and support, and we continue to advise the public to avoid the area while operations are ongoing,” the spokesperson for the service concluded.

How to prevent fires 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.

READ MORE: Essex: Farm buildings and vehicles destroyed in fire

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