Farmers Martin and Debbie Handy have been overwhelmed by the messages of support and offers of help they have received after fire ripped through their farmyard last week.

The couple and sons Philip, 23, and Edward, 20, of West End Farm, Rowde, have been comforted by the level of support from the farming community and the village.

Mrs Handy said: “People have been absolutely incredible. I have had to tell people to stop being so nice to me as it is making me cry. People who I haven’t heard from for ages have been texting and ringing to offer help.”

Hay and straw worth £40,000 were destroyed in the blaze which spread after Philip ran into his parents home next to the yard yelling that a fire had started on Monday last week.

Firefighters were confronted with a wall of flames as they arrived at West End Farm after Mrs Handy rang 999 just before 11am. 

The first crew from Devizes was on the scene within a few minutes and were gradually joined by crews from all over the county. 

Mrs Handy said: “It seemed like hours but actually they were incredibly quick and did a fantastic job.” 

Mr Handy and son Philip, 23, tried to battle the flames themselves and moved young cattle to safety as they waited for the first fire engines to arrive. 

Mr Handy said: “At one point I was trying to move hay and then suddenly there was a big whoosh and the flames were coming at me. Debbie was shouting at me to get out.” 

Mrs Handy, 50, said: “Martin ran outside to see what was happening but I didn’t wait, I just rang 999 immediately.”

At the height of the blaze eight fire appliances and two water carriers were at the farm. Fire fighters were worried about the blaze spreading to two large diesel tanks and a slurry vessel.

Neil Hiscock the watch manager from Trowbridge said: “If the slurry tank had burst there could have been an environmental disaster as the river is only a short distance away and if the diesel had ignited it would have been a major problem.”

 

Mr and Mrs Handy and their son started to move cattle away from the barns containing the bales and to salvage what they could. But the growing flames and intense heat pushed them back and they had to abandon the effort.

Mr Handy, whose family have run West End Farm for more than 50 years, said: “It is devastating but at least all of us and all the animals are safe.”

Mrs Handy said the blaze destroyed a bumper harvest of hay and straw.

She said: “We are dairy farmers but we are also suppliers of hay and straw.

"The last three years have been quite difficult but this year the quality was really high and we were looking forward to being able to supply our customers an excellent product. But we need people to know that we are still in business.

"We have lost nearly everything we have here but we have other stock stored in other places and we will still be able to get hold of supplies.”

The couple, who met through Devizes Young Farmers and have been married for 28 years, are trying to stay positive.

Their three dogs Poppy Girl, Jessica and Maggie were in the farmhouse when the fire started and are safe.

Mrs Handy said: “It is very difficult for us all but the boys really rallied around to help and we all pulled together. The dogs were not too scared and we kept popping back to make sure they were okay.”

It is believed the fire started accidentally but fire investigators have been at the farm along with Environment Agency experts.

Assessors have also been at the farm working out the full cost of the damage, in which four large barns were destroyed.

Praise for firefighters' quick action