100 tonnes of hay on fire makes third fire in three days in Swindon

A fire was reported in a field opposite the  Esso garage in Chiseldon early this morning.

A resident in the area, Alan Hillier witnessed the fire and said: “We woke up for a drink of water at 12.39am, saw the fire called 999 and within 5 minutes fire crews were on site”

A spokesperson from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said: "The incident at Chiseldon is on-going, we were initially called to a field off The Ridgeway at 12.28am this morning for approximately 100 tonnes of hay on fire."

Crews attended from Swindon and Stratton, together with a water carrier from Royal Wootton Bassett.

They used two main jets to surround the fire and prevent it from spreading, and one crew from Stratton has maintained a watching brief since.

"We will have further resources there later this morning to work with the farmer to bring the incident to a close."

This makes it three fires in three days in Swindon, as it follows a fire close to the Great Western Hospital on Friday night and a field fire in Wichelstowe on Saturday night.