There was disbelief and panic as a large fire ripped through a barn in Nottinghamshire - completely destroying everything inside. Firefighters were called to the blaze in Gilt Hill, Kimberley - not far from Ikea in Giltbrook Shopping Park - on Friday evening, May 12.
Crews worked tirelessly at the scene to bring the fire under control and stop it from spreading to a nearby school. Residents nearby were asked to keep their doors and windows closed while the incident was being dealt with.
Four fire engines were dispatched to Kimberley and 250 tonnes of straw were ablaze with firefighters working overnight to handle the incident. No-one was injured as a result of the fire, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue confirmed.
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Matthew Blant, a farmer who has been renting the land, said: “It’s depressing. The barn is now gone. We have been renting from a woman who is in her late 70s. It upset her.
“We have been farming hay and now it’s all gone. We are going to have to cart everything to the other farm. And build another shed.”
Although the cause of the fire is unknown at this time, he added: “I’m disappointed in humanity.”
Susan Lilley, who is the co-owner of the land alongside her daughter, added: “We used to have a dairy farm here. I have lived here since 1964.”
The 79-year-old added: “I adopted a cat, and I went out to feed it when I smelt some smoke. I ran back in to call the fire brigade. But they were already dealing with it.
“I was worried for the school. I was telling to my daughter - it is a good job it is Saturday tomorrow. It is going to take days for the smoke to die down. We had break ins before - but we never had a fire.”
Station Manager Jim Dykes said four engines have been called to a large barn fire shortly before 5pm. He said: “Crews initially attended to what was believed to be a grass fire. Large smoke was seen.
“We attended with four fire engines and one specialist appliance. It was a significant fire.”
He added: “Crews have worked hard and stopped it spreading.”
The main concern was to stop the fire from spreading into the school area. “It is going to be burning for some time. I think it will still be burning in the morning as it’s 250 tonnes of straw.”
He advised residents to keep their doors and windows closed. While the cause of the fire is unknown at the moment, station manager Dykes confirmed there are no injuries.
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