Firefighters tackle large hay fire in Wickham

Firefighters were called to a large hay fire off Titchfield Lane, Wickham, involving approximately 50 tonnes of hay, a tractor and a barn.

The scale of the incident prompted a large-scale response, with crews working to bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading.

Due to the significant amount of smoke generated by the fire, local residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed to minimise the impact of smoke entering properties.

Firefighters used two high-pressure hose reels, two jets and multiple hand tools to tackle the fire. The incident resulted in 100% damage to the tractor and hay bales, while the barn sustained approximately 50% damage.

The fire was brought under control, with crews remaining at the scene throughout the day to monitor the situation and ensure it remained fully contained, before the final crews left and returned to station shortly after 1:20pm.

The incident has now been handed back to the farmer.

The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault in the tractor.