Major barn fire near Crediton

Hay destroyed. Calves saved.

Fire crews worked through Friday night tackling a barn fire at Newton St Cyres, near Crediton - rescuing about 100 calves in the process.

A farmer reported a hay barn on fire at about 8.15 pm and initially appliances from Crediton and a water carrier from Danes Castle, the central fire station in Exeter were mobilised, but this was quickly increased by two more fire engine.

The her of calves from an adjacent shed were rescued uninjured. Around midnight the incident was scaled down to two crews, which conducted a watching brief throughout the night, but even by 7.30am on Saturday, the incident remained ongoing. In total fire engines and supporting specialist appliances from Bovey Tracey, Honiton, Exeter (Middlemoor and Clyst St George) and Chagford were involved. One crew from North Tawton were  relieved by another from Crediton on Saturday. 

Crews worked alongside the farmer to work out the most effective way to control the incident. The barn but not its contents has been saved. Remaining hay was moved to open field and allowed to burn out as crews damped down the fire inside the barn to prevent it destroying the barn itself or from spreading to other outbuildings.