Fire crews tackle Chatteris farm blaze

FARM BLAZE: Fire crews tackle the fire at Chatteris this morning. PIC: Brian Purdy.

Fire fighters are this lunchtime tackling a farm fire in the Fens which has destroyed a store containing 1,200 tonnes of onions.

The blaze was discovered shortly before 9am by farm worker, Terry Stokes, at Colne Fen Farm, Chatteris.

Six pumps are at farm which belongs to A & E G Heading. Crews successfully fought to stop the fire spreading to nearby gas cylinders and an adjacent store containing 2,000 tonnes of wheat.

Company director Marc Heading said: “The fire service was very swift in its response and I am very thankful that it hasn't spread. If it had happened at 9pm or the wind had been in a different direction it would have been a very different story.”

Mick Lawrence, district manager for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “The fire was well established when we got here and we have had to put significant effort into stopping the fire spreading to the adjacent building and the gas cylinders.

“We have been able to achieve that but unfortunately the main building is lost. “Because of the some of the materials involved we are having to wear protective clothing and work up wind of the fire.”

Crews from Chatteris, March, St Neots, Ramsey and Ely will remain at the farm and hope to have the fire extinguished this afternoon.