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Sheep killed and barn ‘destroyed’ as electrical fault sparks farm fire
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said five fire crews attended the scene with more than 25 fire fighters in attendance.
Lauren Dean
A suspected electrical fault which sparked a farm fire has killed more than a dozen sheep.
Wayne Hutchinson, who farms Swaledales between Sedbergh and Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, said the blaze also wiped out all of the shed’s hay and straw.
He had only bought the supplies on Thursday from a local trader.
Mr Hutchinson said: “We got all of the sheep out alive, but since then we have lost about 19.
“They were singed and were smouldering on their backs. Fire crews from Sedbergh and Kirky Stephen responded quickly and were later joined by a crew from Kendal.
“They bravely managed to evacuate the 60 or so sheep from the shed. They did an amazing job.”
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Although the fire took out a huge amount of the farm’s winter feed, Mr Hutchinson said it was not going to make the winter months a lot more difficult.
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said five fire crews attended the scene with more than 25 fire fighters in attendance.
Smoke inhalation
A spokesman said: “The fire was in a detached barn on the farm site and there were sheep in an adjacent building.
“The first thing the fire crew did was to remove the sheep and we are pleased to say all the livestock were alive at that time.
“Some of the sheep did suffer smoke inhalation however and could have been affected afterwards.”
The fire crews used hose reel jets, thermal imaging cameras and breathing apparatus, as well as water from a nearby river.
The barn was destroyed but the adjacent building where the sheep were housed was not.
“It is not believed to be suspicious,” the spokesman added.
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