A BARN has been completely destroyed following a huge fire near Bridgwater

The fire service received several calls reporting a hay barn on fire in Burtle.

Two fire engines from Glastonbury and Burnham-on-Sea as well as a water carrier from Bridgwater were sent to the scene at 2.42pm on Saturday (July 20).

Due to the number of calls being received by the fire control another fire engine from Bridgwater was sent to the scene.

Calls to the fire service suggested that there was a large amount of diesel in the barn and the fire may have spread to the house so a fourth fire appliance from Street were mobilised.

When they arrived firefighters confirmed one barn well alight and the fire had spread to the rear of the adjacent house. Fire crews are tackling the fire using one hose reel jet, one compressed air foam systems jet and two breathing apparatus wearers.

At 3.07pm two fire appliances from Bridgwater and Wells as well as the incident command vehicle from Wiveliscombe.

At 3.20pm fire crews requested the attendance of Western Power to isolate the power to the property as well as police to close the road.

At 5.02pm the Environment Agency were informed that diesel had spilled into a nearby watercourse.

Firefighters were also using air compressed foam to fight the fire. 

At 5.27pm the incident was scaled down to one pump and one water carrier as firefighters allowed approximately 100 bales of hay burn out under supervision.

A spokesman for the fire service said the barn has been 'severely damaged' by fire and firefighters were using a covering jet to prevent the fire from spreading and cool down a heating oil tank. 

At 11pm a relief crew from Nether Stowey went to the scene and all other appliances apart from the water carrier returned to the station. 

At 6am today (July 21) the fire was being left to burn out.

A spokesman for the fire service, said: "The barn was completely destroyed in the fire, and the cause was deemed accidental ignition. "