THIRTY acres of crop and a combine harvester caught fire in a huge blaze that ripped through fields in Horton yesterday.
Crews from Bath, Yate, Kingswood, Temple, Thornbury, Portishead, Avonmouth Southmead and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service attended the incident which started in Horton yesterday morning.
Fire crews were first called at 12.11 to reports of the combine harvester well alight in Hall Lane, Horton.
It took eight crews to extinguish the mass blaze that and also destroyed over 30 acres of wheat.
A spokesperson for Thornbury fire service said: "Yesterday one of our crews attended an eight pump field fire in Hall Lane, Horton.
"The fire was accidentally started while the field was being harvested for an arable cereal crop.
"Crews from both Avon Fire & Rescue Service and Gloucestershire fire and rescue service attended the incident and worked together.
"Our crew used foam to extinguish the combine harvester.
"Nobody was injured in the incident."
Avon Fire and rescue service confirmed firefighters used one high pressure hose reel, three 45mm jets, foam and a number of beaters to extinguish the blaze.
The cause of the fire is thought to be accidental.
The blaze was the second in just days to cause massive damage to farmland and machinery after firefighters took 12 hours to get a blaze under control in Didmarton.
The fire spread to over 110,000sq metres and caused damage to farm machinery, but quick intervention prevented any damage to property.
A brave farmer that owned the land ploughed in front of the flames to stop it from spreading.
A statement from the fire service said: "Seven engines attended the scene and used hose reels, breathing apparatus and water carrying rucksacks to extinguish the fire," reads the statement.
"The stop signal was received at 1.50am on Monday, 8 August, and two engines remain on site to make the area safe.”
Chief firefighter at Yate Station Mark Rayner explained that fires can be wind driven and warned that small embers can be carried from a manageable fire and cause a big blaze due to the amount of dry land.
He said: "There is a lot of dry grass and dry area, the wind will carry the embers and a big fire will take hold very fast. "We are working in immense heat in our uniforms, we are urging people to be cautious. "However if you see a fire, don't attempt to put it out- call 999 immediately."
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