'We lost all our hay and straw' - farmer devastated after huge fire destroys barn
A farmer has been left devastated and ’shook up’ after a fire destroyed his barn containing 500 tonnes of straw.
James Anderson, 50, found his barn well alight at around 9.30pm last night (December 10) at Priory Farm in Needingworth, near St Ives.
He told Cambridgeshire Live: "I’m pretty shook up really. We lost all our hay and straw. We’ve got beef cattle here, and it’s just at the start of winter, so I’m just wondering how we’re going to cope, really.
“We don’t know how it started. There were two separate fires. One on either end of the farm.
“They’re just damping down the fire. Everything has gone completely. Luckily it wasn’t windy so they managed to stop it spreading. We’ve got a farm full of beef cattle. Nothing was hurt. We’ve lost their feed and bedding for the winter.
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“We’ve got some good friends and neighbours and they’ve offered to help, which is appreciated.
“I guess we’ll just manage the best we can. We’ll have to buy and get through the winter.
“It’s come at the worst time of year. But we’ll manage.”
Firefighters have been tackling this #barnfire in #Needingworth overnight 📸 The fire is now under control and crews have scaled down 👍 pic.twitter.com/Z2qyJUY1VE
— Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (@cambsfrs)Firefighters have been tackling this #barnfire in #Needingworth overnight \uD83D\uDCF8 The fire is now under control and crews have scaled down \uD83D\uDC4D pic.twitter.com/Z2qyJUY1VE
— Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (@cambsfrs) December 11, 2018
A Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue service spokeswoman said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
"At 9.29pm last night, crews were called to a barn fire on Lowndes Drove, Needingworth.
"Firefighters arrived to find a barn containing 500 tonnes of straw well alight.
"Crews from Cottenham, Ely, Burwell, Papworth, March, Gamlingay, St Neots, Ramsey, Huntingdon, St Ives and Chatteris have been in attendance overnight. The water carrier and welfare unit have also been in attendance.
"Working in sections, firefighters used two hose reels and a jet to get the fire under control and protect nearby buildings.
"The crews have now scaled down, and one fire engine is in attendance.
"The cause of the fire is under investigation."
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