FIREFIGHTERS remain on the scene of a fire that engulfed around 20 tonnes of hay and straw in Dorset.

Thirteen fire crews have been involved in tackling the blaze at a farm in Stalbridge, which the fire service was called to shortly before 9pm last night, July 22.

It was reported to the service that around 20 tonnes of hay and straw were alight on a trailer, with firefighters using hose reel jets to extinguish the fire and protect the barn next to the blaze.

The hay and straw is being moved by farm machinery, with the fire service saying that good progress has been made.

However, it is not yet clear what the cause of the fire is, and firefighters are unsure when they will be able to leave the scene.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to a farm in Stalbridge at 8.52pm last night (22 July) for a fire involving approx. 20 tonnes of hay and straw on a trailer.

“We initially sent crews from Sturminster Newton (x2), Sherborne (x2) and Blandford, together with a water carrier from Yeovil and a support unit from Dorchester.

“Firefighters have been using hose reel jets to extinguish the fire and protect the adjacent barn, with hay and straw being moved by farm machinery.

“Relief crews attended from Gillingham, Wimborne, Shaftesbury and Tisbury, and we scaled back to a one pump watching brief at around 4.45am, which was a crew from Bridport – they have just been replaced by a crew from Warminster.

“Good progress is being made in moving the hay and straw, but it’s not clear yet when we will be able to leave the scene.

“There is no cause for the fire as yet.”