Arson hunt after barn blazes for day and a half (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Arson hunt after barn blazes for day and a half

AN ARSON investigation has been launched into a 36-hour blaze at a farm in Ashton Keynes.

At 12.40am on Saturday, crews were called to Rixon Farm to deal with a fire involving a five-bay Dutch Barn and an agricultural trailer of baled hay.

The blaze required the attendance of appliances from Wiltshire and Gloucester.

A Wiltshire fire brigade spokesman said: "Crews were required to deal with a significant fire that without their prompt and professional actions would have spread to adjacent farm buildings."

Preliminary investigations indicate that this fire was started deliberately.

"Wiltshire Fire Brigade would like to take this opportunity to remind people of the dangers of starting fires," the spokesman added.

"Not only does it lead to the damage of property and financial loss, but there is also the risk of people being seriously injured or worse.

"This applies not only to those starting the fire, but also persons in areas to which a fire may spread. This risk is significantly increased at times of particularly dry conditions like those we are experiencing at present."

Wiltshire Fire Brigade has many ongoing projects to increase safety within the county. These include, Home Safety, Road Safety, Water Safety, Arson Reduction and Business Safety.

Anyone who requires information can call Fire Control on 01380 731130 for details of the nearest Community Safety Department and see the Brigade's website at wiltshirefirebrigade.gov.uk

Anyone with information about how the blaze started should call Wiltshire police on 01380 722341 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.