Date: 26th April, 2016
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service remain at the scene of a significant farm fire near Sherborne, which started at 6.57pm last night (26 April).
At the height of the blaze in Coombe Lane, Trent, there were 12 fire engines and a number of supporting appliances, including three water carriers.
Three 40m x 20m barns, each containing around 1,500 tonnes of hay and straw, together with a significant stack, have been affected by the fire, which spread after sparks from a bonfire were carried by the wind.
Crews initially attended from Sherborne, Tisbury, Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton, Gillingham and Mere, supported by Devon & Somerset FRS crews from Yeovil, Castle Cary and Wincanton. Water carriers came from Bridport, Poole and Yeovil.
As well as tackling the blaze, firefighters had to ensure that nearby barns containing livestock and also the adjacent farmhouse were protected from the flames.
At midnight, the incident was scaled back to eight pumps, drawn from Blandford, Shaftesbury, Maiden Newton, Bridport, Dorchester, Weymouth, plus a unimog from Wareham, and it was scaled back again in the early morning, with reliefs from Portland, Wimborne, Poole and Swanage.
A four pump relief is due this morning, and firefighters expect to remain at the scene for some hours yet.